His Majesty the Emperor's New Year Thoughts

2003 New Year Greeting by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

We are greeting a new year in the midst of a severe economic situation.

As we look back, exactly fifty years have passed since the New Year right after the Peace Treaty came into effect. Bearing in mind the great efforts the people have made during the past 50 years in building the Japan of today , I hope that we can unite in utmost efforts to pursue a better future.

I can well imagine that there are various hardships and difficulties in the people's life, but I sincerely hope that this new year will be better, even a little, for each and everyone.