Photo/Illutration Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako wave to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 2, 2020. (Hiroyuki Yamamoto)

The imperial family will offer public New Year’s greetings on Jan. 2 for the first time in three years, the Imperial Household Agency announced.

The family members will appear on a balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo at 10:10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:20 p.m. and 3:10 p.m., according to the agency.

The agency said people who want to attend must apply in advance and choose a time slot.

Only about 1,500 people will be accepted for each slot as a measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the agency said. If there are more applicants than spots available, participants will be decided via lottery.

Visitors will also be asked to write down their names in front of the agency’s building on Jan. 2.

The annual event was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic. The 2023 event could also be scrapped depending on the virus situation and the weather in the capital.

Applications will be accepted from 9 a.m. on Nov. 2 through Nov. 18 on the agency’s website.

People can also apply by postcard, but they must be postmarked by Nov. 18.

For more details, visit the agency’s website (https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/)

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