Note to poem 1 :
In this poem His Majesty the Emperor describes how, concerned for the damage, He watched the disaster unfold on television at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11.
Note to poem 2 :
In this poem His Majesty describes how He felt when Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress visited the afflicted areas and evacuation centres to console the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Note to poem 3 :
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, in Soma city in Fukushima Prefecture, they evacuated the boats out to sea immediately after the quake, enabling many boats to return to port safely. In this poem His Majesty describes how He felt when he heard about this and saw the boats on Their Majesties' visit to Soma city on May 11th.
Note to poem 4 :
On October 20th Her Majesty the Empress celebrated Her 77th birthday, making both Their Majesties seventy-seven years old. In this poem His Majesty describes His feeling on reflecting on the many years spent with Her Majesty after their wedding.
Note to poem 5 :
In this poem His Majesty describes how, as the cold winter approaches again the regions afflicted by the earthquake, He is concerned for the well-being of the people living in temporary housing and other less than adequate conditions.
Note to poem 1 :
A four-year-old girl, whose parents and younger sister were swept away in the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, was writing a letter to her mother and fell asleep, lying face down on the letter. Her Majesty was touched to see that photograph in the newspaper and composed this poem. The original letter was written all in hiragana and says, "To Mama. I hope you're alive. Are you well?"
Note to poem 2 :
On Their Majesties' visit to the afflicted areas to console the victims, Her Majesty saw the sea, now so calm as if nothing has happened. In this poem, She describes Her feeling of wonder about the tsunami which took the lives of so many people, destroying vast fields and towns.
Note to poem 3 :
In the garden of the Imperial Residence, white cross-shaped flowers of dokudami, Houttuynia cordata, bloom from late spring to early summer. In this poem Her Majesty describes how, on seeing the flowers, She reflected on this year's spring when many lives were lost to disaster.