Photo/Illutration Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the New Year’s Poetry Reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 16. (Pool)

Empress Masako on Jan. 16 attended the annual New Year’s Poetry Reading at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for the first time in 17 years.

Her husband, Emperor Naruhito, and other members of the imperial family were also present at the ceremony, which features traditional “waka” poems written by the royals and 10 other composers selected from the public.

This year’s theme was “nozomi,” hope.

The poem by Naruhito read: “Manabiya ni/ Hibikau Ko ra no/ Hazumu Koe/ Sayakeku Are to/ Hitasura Nozomu” (When I hear the cheerful voices of children/ Resounding through their classrooms/ I hope from the bottom of my heart/ They have a bright and beautiful future).

Naruhito composed the piece after meeting in June with children at a kindergarten in Tokyo’s Minato Ward during playtime and students at Gakushui Senior High School where the couple’s daughter, Aiko, was attending, during its school festival in November.

Masako’s poem was inspired by high school students who volunteered at sites devastated by flooding and heavy rain in 2019. The empress said their dedication gave victims of the natural disasters hope and courage.

The empress’s poem read: “Wazawai yori/ Tachiagaran to Suru Hito ni/ Wakaki ra no Chikara/ Kibo Motarasu” (The power of youth/ Brings hope/ To those who strive/ To rise up from the calamity they suffer).

In 2019, the emperor and empress visited Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, and Motomiya, Fukushima Prefecture, to comfort victims of flooding from Typhoon No. 19 and other heavy rains.