Activities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress

Official Duties, including Matters of State

天皇陛下
His Majesty performs his acts in Matters of State (Imperial Palace)

The Emperor, with the advice and approval of the Cabinet, performs those acts in matters of state, provided for in the Constitution, acting on behalf of the people. These acts include Appointing Prime Minister as designated by the Diet, Appointing Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as designated by the Cabinet, Attesting the appointment and dismissal of Ministers of State and other officials, Convoking the National Diet, Promulgating laws and treaties, Awarding honors, Attesting the credentials of ambassadors, and Receiving foreign ambassadors and ministers. Documents of Cabinet decisions pertaining to such matters of state are sent to His Majesty following each Cabinet meeting, and His Majesty looks thoroughly through these documents before signing them and affixing his seal. During the course of 2022, His Majesty performed 1,042 such acts in matters of state. Furthermore, in relation to these matters of state, His Majesty attends the opening ceremony of the National Diet, and also takes part in ceremonies and events at the Imperial Palace. These ceremonies include Appointment of Prime Minister and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Appointment of Ministers and Officials with Imperial attestation, Receiving of Credentials of Foreign Ambassadors, and Awarding of honors.

At the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Residence, Their Majesties host events such as the ceremonies described above, and various others, such as audiences, teas, lunches and dinners. During 2022 Their Majesties held a total of 201 audiences. Many of these events are organized to enable Their Majesties to have opportunities to offer their encouragement to people for their steady efforts in respective fields, and express their appreciation to people who have accomplished outstanding achievements. These events provide opportunities for Their Majesties to meet with people from all sectors of society: People engaged in maintenance of law and order, such as National Diet members, Cabinet ministers, government officials, court judges and others; People engaged in medical and social welfare sectors such as doctors, nurses and others; Recipients of Honors and the Order of Cultural Merit; and honorees of the Japan Academy Prize and the Japan Art Academy Prize. For the purpose of nurturing international goodwill, State Banquets are held for visiting State Guests. Their Majesties also hold audiences and luncheons for other foreign dignitaries. Their Majesties also meet with foreign ambassadors at the time of their departure from Japan, and during 2022, met with the ambassadors of 13 countries.

Their Majesties also meet with each of the ambassadors of Japan prior to their overseas posting. Their Majesties also exchange letters and telegrams with the Heads of State of other countries, and during 2022 there were 543 such pieces of correspondence.

Their Majesties also makes Imperial donations, such as condolence money for natural disasters like earthquakes or typhoons, gifts to social work organizations, and funeral contributions on the demise of people of merit who have served the nation and society.

In May 2019 Her Majesty was appointed the Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Official Visits within Japan

Their Majesties make visits to various events in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, including annual visits such as the Memorial to the Nation's War Dead, the Japan Academy Prize Ceremony, the Japan Art Academy Prize Ceremony, and the Japan Prize Ceremony. As Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society, Her Majesty attends the annual meeting of the Japanese Red Cross Society, and the biannual Florence Nightingale Medal Award Ceremony.

With regard to regional visits, every year Their Majesties make four visits to regional areas of Japan to attend National Arbor Day, National Sports Festival, The Festival of Celebration for Maritime Resources, and the National Cultural Festival and National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities. On the occasion of such visits, Their Majesties also observe the situation in the respective regions, and from time to time also make visits to attend international academic meetings.

In addition, every year in honor of Children’s Day, Respect for the Aged Day, and the Week for Persons with Disabilities, Their Majesties make commemorative visits.

In recent years, in cases where it has been difficult to make in-person visits due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Their Majesties have made effective use of online formats to attend these various ceremonies and festivals virtually. Their Majesties have also been able to connect online with facilities in remote areas, such as remote islands and mountainous regions, enabling Their Majesties to listen to the stories of local people and interact with them.

Since the time when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Their Majesties have visited areas around the country that have been affected by natural disasters such as typhoons and torrential rains, and have visited areas affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake. After His Majesty’s accession to the throne, in December 2019, Their Majesties visited regions (Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures) that had been affected by Typhoon No. 19 (Typhoon Hagibis), offering their sympathies to persons affected and encouragement to people engaged in relief efforts. In 2021, Their Majesties made online visits to Kumamoto Prefecture to offer their sympathies to regions affected by torrential rains in July 2020, and also to Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures to observe the progress of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Their Majesties continue to care for the wellbeing of people affected in every disaster region, including those that they visited, and maintain a deep interest in the status of reconstruction efforts.

Their Majesties visit Meguro City Center for the Elderly and Meguro City Silver HR Center.
(Meguro City Center for the Elderly and Meguro City Silver HR Center)
Her Majesty presents the medals at the 47th Florence Nightingale Medal Award Ceremony .
(Tokyo Prince Hotel)
Their Majesties attend the welcome ceremony at sea for the 41st National Convention for the Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea
(Akashi Port Veranda Seawall (Akashi City))
(Photo: Hyogo Prefecture)
Their Majesties observe online the progress of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Overseas Visits

Upon the invitation of foreign governments, Their Majesties make overseas visits to foster international goodwill. They have also made overseas visits to attend funeral ceremonies for members of foreign royal families.

During overseas visits, Their Majesties meet Heads of State as well as people from a variety of sectors, make visits to many facilities in various regions relating to the history, culture, industry or social welfare of the country.

Passing on Traditional Culture

From time to time Their Majesties compose waka (a classical form of poetry dating back to the 8th century Manyoshu Anthology), an age-old tradition in the Imperial Family. Every year in January, the ceremony of the Utakai Hajime, or the New Year’s Poetry Reading, is held at the Imperial Palace. It’s origin is said to date back to the mid-Kamakura Period. At this ceremony, ten waka that have been selected from numerous public submissions are recited in the traditional manner, together with the waka composed by Their Majesties and other members of the Imperial Family.

Also every year in January, Their Majesties attend the ceremony of the Kousho Hajime, or Imperial New Year’s Lectures, a tradition that dates back to 1869. Their Majesties receive lectures from preeminent scholars in the fields of human sciences, social sciences and natural sciences.

In addition, the treasures and objects that are stored at the Shosoin Repository and at the Higashiyama Collection in Kyoto, are preserved by Imperial order. The Imperial Household Agency also preserves and passes down the traditions of gagaku (Imperial court music) and various ancient equestrian traditions.

His Majesty transplants rice seedings in the rice paddy at the Imperial Palace (Biological Laboratory of the Imperial Household)
Her Majesty feeds mulberry leaves to the silkwarms.(the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery)

His Majesty has followed in the footsteps of His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus in honoring the tradition started by his grandfather Emperor Showa of planting and harvesting rice, which is the staple crop in Japan’s agricultural traditions. Every year, His Majesty sows rice seeds in spring, transplants the seedlings in early summer, and harvests the rice in the autumn.

Her Majesty has taken on the tradition of Imperial sericulture from Her Majesty the Empress Emerita. The Imperial sericulture was started by Empress Dowager Shoken in 1871. At the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery, various works for different stages of sericulture are carried out. Sericulture starts with “Hakitate”, which means brushing off newly hatched tiny silkworms from paper cards on which the eggs were laid, to baskets with fresh mulberry leaves. Then the feeding of mulberry leaves to the silkworms follows. When silkworms have achieved maturity, they are transferred into to the cocooning frames, where they spin their cocoons. Her Majesty raises various varieties of domesticated silkworms, including the “Koishimaru” variety, which is indigenous to Japan. Silkworms are also raised outdoors.

The fine silk thread of the “Koishimaru” variety that has long been cultivated in Japan was confirmed as being the best for the restoration of silk textiles stored at the Shosoin Repository, and from 1994 until 2009 Her Majesty the Empress Emerita offered the silk thread to the Shosoin for restoration of the priceless ancient textiles. Also, in 2005 silk was also offered for the restoration of the cover and wrapping cord of the masterpiece Kasuga Gongen Genki-E (Legends of Kasuga Shrine), illustrated scrolls of the Kamakura period (Sannomaru Shozokan (Museum of the Imperial Collections)).

Court Rituals and Ceremonies

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress have always honored Imperial traditions, including the ceremonies and rituals performed at the Three Palace Sanctuaries (Kashikodokoro, Koreiden, Shinden). Their Majesties have diligently taken on these ancient rituals and traditions that have been passed down through the ages and always pray for the happiness of the people of Japan.

Life at the Imperial Residence

In September 2021, Their Majesties moved from the Akasaka Estate, where they lived for many years, to the Imperial Residence within the Fukiage Gardens in the Imperial Palace Grounds. In addition to official events at the Imperial Palace, Their Majesties also hold official events at the Imperial Residence. Their Majesties often receive lectures on academic, artistic or cultural matters, and listen to explanations from experts on the situation in Japan and overseas, on the status of post-disaster reconstruction efforts, and on various events and ceremonies.

Their Majesties also meet with the members of the Imperial Palace volunteers, from whom they hear about the situation in the various regions of Japan and offer their encouragement.

His Majesty’s Research, etc.

While he was the Crown Prince, from April 1992 to March 2019, His Majesty served as a visiting research fellow at the Gakushuin University Museum of History, where he continued his research on Japanese medieval history. In 2003, he gave a lecture at the Gakushuin Women’s College, titled “British Society and Culture: The Source of North American Culture”. From then for almost every year up to 2019 he gave lectures on various themes.

With regard to water issues, in his capacity as Honorary President of the 3rd World Water Forum, His Majesty delivered a memorial speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum in March 2003, entitled, "Waterways Connecting Kyoto and Local Regions - Focusing on Ancient and Medieval Water Transport on Lake Biwa and Yodo River -". On the occasion of his visit to Mexico in March 2006, His Majesty delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 4th World Water Forum entitled, "Edo and Water Transport". In December 2007, His Majesty delivered the commemorative lecture at the opening ceremony of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit, entitled "Humans and Water: From Japan to the Asia-Pacific Region". In July 2008, on the occasion of his visit to Spain, His Majesty delivered a special lecture entitled "Living with Water - Human Ingenuity and Wisdom" at the "Water Tribune" Symposium of the 2008 Zaragoza International Exposition. In March 2009, on the occasion of his visit to Turkey, His Majesty delivered a keynote speech entitled "Interacting with Water - Close Ties between Humans and Water" at the 5th World Water Forum. In March 2012, at the 6th World Water Forum held in France, a video message from His Majesty was broadcast, entitled "Water and Disaster: Learning from the History of Tsunamis" In March 2013, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Majesty delivered a keynote address entitled "Revisiting the History of Interaction Between Human Beings and Water-related Disasters: Exploration to Find a Hint for a More Disaster-resilient Society". In April 2015, at the 7th World Water Forum in the Republic of Korea, His Majesty delivered a video message entitled “Fulfilling People`s Aspirations on Water-The Relation between Water and People through Science and Technology-”. In November 2015, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Majesty gave a keynote lecture entitled “Quest for Better Relations Between People and Water”. In July 2017, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Majesty sent a video message entitled “Working with Water”. In March 2018, His Majesty gave a keynote lecture titled “Water to Bring About Prosperity, Peace and Happiness” to the High Level Panel on Water and Disasters at the 8th World Water Forum in Brazil. In April 2019 an anthology of His Majesty’s speeches on water-related issues was published, entitled “Speeches on Water Issues”. Following his accession to the Throne, in June 2021, His Majesty delivered a keynote address, entitled “Passing on the Memory of Disasters: Towards Building a Resilient and Sustainable Post-corona Society”, at the 5th United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters that was held online. The following year, in April 2022, His Majesty delivered an online keynote address entitled “Hearts, Minds and Water - Touching Water in People’s Beliefs” at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit.

In addition, the fruits of His Majesty’s studies in the United Kingdom culminated in an English paper, "The Thames as Highway," which was published in April 1989. In September 1991 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Law from the University of Oxford.

His Majesty is a sportsman and music lover, being an avid tennis player and also enjoying mountaineering, skiing and jogging. He is an accomplished violist.

Her Majesty is also a sports and music lover, in particular tennis and skiing.

Since April 2020 Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko is studying at the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters of Gakushuin University.