THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
April 6, 2023 at 18:25 JST
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are all smiles at the Imperial Stock Farm in Takanezawa, Tochigi Prefecture, on April 5. Princess Aiko stands beside them. (Pool)
TAKANEZAWA, Tochigi Prefecture--Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived at an imperial farm here on April 5 with Princess Aiko for their first retreat since August 2019.
Naruhito, Masako and Aiko, all maskless, went for a stroll at the Imperial Stock Farm (Goryo Bokujo) while watching horses on the open range.
“I am very happy the three of us were able to come here together for the first time after a long while,” Naruhito told reporters.
The family last visited the farm, which straddles the towns of Takanezawa and Haga, in May 2018.
At one point, when Naruhito pointed at cherry blossoms and Masako moved closer to see them, they bumped heads.
A smiling Naruhito apologized to Masako, prompting laughter from the three of them, who all looked relaxed.
Aiko said earlier, “I look forward to spending quality time here watching the animals and harvesting vegetables.”
The imperial family refrained from going on a retreat after the novel coronavirus pandemic struck three years ago.
The latest trip is the first retreat since the visit to the Nasu Imperial Villa in Nasu, also in Tochigi Prefecture, in August 2019.
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