(Note):
When Their Majesties, then Crown Prince and Princess, used to sojourn in Karuizawa, they often visited Ohinata, land reclaimed and settled by returnees from Manchuria. During their stay in Karuizawa this year, they revisited this same area.
(Note):
The San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect on 28 April 1952. The Amami Islands which came under American military occupation and administration after World War II had to remain in that same situation until the islands were finally returned to Japan on December 1953.
Note to poem 1 :
The term 'okenaku' in the original indicates a deep sense of gratitude, so deep as to seem undeserved, and is used by Her Majesty to indicate her indescribable thankfulness.
Note to poem 2 :
Her Majesty composed this poem when she was moved to ponder the mystery of Okuninushi-no-mikoto, who gave up the country to the heavenly gods and of his own volition is enshrined in Izumo as guardian of the peace and tranquility of the people.
Note to poem 3 :
On the morning following their attendance at the ceremonies for the 50th anniversary of the reversion of Amami-Oshima, Their Majesties went out early from their lodging in Kasaricho to walk on nearby Tomori beach, and saw the sunrise. Her Majesty's third poem is about that occasion.