Waka Poems by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess

Theme for the New Year's Poetry Reading (2000): TIME

His Majesty the Emperor
To think of the time
When following my father
I came to throne
With the world wide astir
And far-reaching change started!

Moved by the thought that His Accession to the Throne occurred around the time when all sort of barriers separating East Europe and West were breaking down, leading to a period of great world change with possibilities for all people to better understand one another, His Majesty composed this poem.

Her Majesty the Empress
"Restored to new life"
said my friend feeling healed
Of illness at long last.
Oh, Time! Go gentle with her.
Flow for her softly ever.

For a friend who is spending each day in thankfulness for being restored to health and what she calls her "new life" down the days since her recovery, Her Majesty composed this poem in earnest hope and prayer that, somehow, time in its onward flow will be always gentle with her.

His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince
Transcending distant time and space,
the world of stars we now see is explored by Subaru.

Taking eight year to complete, the Japan National Obsevatory's "Subaru Telescope" on the summit of Mauna Kea began functioning in September of 1999.

This poem recalls how the Subaru Telescpe investigates the world of stars whose light has finally reached the earth after millions of years.

Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess
With my husband as my guide through these seven years,
our wolds of the heart grow deeper with each passing day.

In this poem, Her Imperial Highness call to mind the time she has spent with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince during the seven years since their engagement.