Year-end Presentations of Waka Poems

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor

The Nagano Winter Paralympics

The contest over,
THe athletes who competed
In the ice sledge race,
Looking refreshed and smiling,
Go lightly around the rink.

Visiting the United Kingdom

My thoughts go out to
Those Who tend in wounded hearts
Feelings of friendship,
Helping them to rise above
All the pain and scars of war.

Visiting the Kingdom of Denmark

While on board a boat
Along with the members of
Denmark's Royal House,
From the Kronborg-Slot castle
A roar of guns resounding.

On hearing of the state of recovery of Okushiri Island

When I remember
THe awful calamity
Of five years ago,
To hear of recovery
Gladdens my heart to the core.

Thinking of those people stricken by the disaster of concentrated heavy rains

The people living
In places that were hard hit
By the terrible
Concentrated heavy rains,
How will they pass the Winter?

Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Emperess

On a Journey Abroad(*)

I think of people
Assailed with a deep sadness
They do not express.
Now back in our homeland where
The apricot bears green fruit.

NoticeNote:
Her Majesty composed this poem when, in Britain, their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress had to undergo the severe protests of former British prisoners of war,and she was led to think as well about those other wartime captives,the Japanese taken prisoner.

The Soccer World Cup

To defend the goal -
The task entrusted to him
And to him alone -
The young man takes up his stand,
Eyes wide open and watchful.

On a Sunny Day

He who in silence
Takes on His own self the load
Of all that happens -
As He stands in the sunlight
What are His thoughts and feelings?