Photo/Illutration Emperor Naruhito during a Feb. 21 news conference held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to mark his 62nd birthday (Pool)

Emperor Naruhito, turning 62 on Feb. 23, expressed his earnest hopes that the nation will soon overcome the “grim reality” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also referred to lukewarm public sentiment toward his niece, the former Princess Mako, how emperors have traditionally viewed their role in society, his thoughts on this year’s 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japanese sovereignty and his daughter, Princess Aiko.

“I firmly believe that we will persevere and overcome this grim reality (if) everyone continues an effort to support each other and share our pain while having compassion for each other,” Naruhito said in reference to the pandemic.

Turning to the marriage saga that enveloped his niece, Naruhito said, “I feel sorry for causing many people worry.”

Mako, now known simply as Mako Komuro, stoked controversy and social media bashing with her decision to marry lawyer-in-training Kei Komuro after weekly magazines had a heyday reporting on his mother’s financial difficulties and other issues.

MEDIA COVERAGE ISSUE

Naruhito raised the issue “in general terms” and said, “I hope (for) a tolerant society where people use their imagination to think about other people’s situations and give consideration to people who are in a different position or have a different opinion and respect them.”

On that point, he observed the importance of giving out information on the imperial family “properly.”

His younger brother and Mako’s father, Crown Prince Fumihito, 56, said at a news conference in November that he advocated establishing certain standards with regard to media coverage to allow imperial family members to counter factually inaccurate reports.

For this reason, Naruhito’s comments on the issue are of keen public interest.

An acrylic panel was set up in front of the emperor as a precaution against infection from the novel coronavirus during his roughly 50-minute news conference held from 5 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Ishibashi-no-Ma room at the Imperial Palace.

Reporters with the Imperial Household Agency Press Club sat at a respectful distance.

Naruhito covered a number of topics during this time.

He was asked to comment on a report by a panel of experts set up by the central government that was submitted to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the end of last year on the intertwined issues of sustainable imperial succession and securing sufficient numbers of imperial family members to keep the system going.

While not mentioning the panel’s report, Naruhito referred to statements issued by his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, as well as records left by past emperors such as Go-Nara during the age of provincial wars. Naruhito said he felt that emperors traditionally viewed their role as having a “spiritual position to share joys and sorrows with people.”

“I will further seek to carry out my duty as a symbol (of state) while thinking about people and being there for people,” he said.

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Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Feb. 10 (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)

OKINAWA ANNIVERSARY

With Okinawa shortly to mark the half-century of its return to Japanese sovereignty, Naruhito said, “I hope to look at the path that Okinawa has followed and feel sympathy to the land and people of Okinawa.”

He added, “I hope many people learn the history and culture of Okinawa and enrich their understanding of Okinawa.”

His daughter, Aiko, who turned 20 years old in December, is now a full-fledged adult member of the imperial family, which requires her to carry out public duties.

“I hope that she carries out every single duty with a caring feeling and appreciation,” her father said. “I will give a helping hand to her as much as possible.”

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