Photo/Illutration Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako speak with Mitsuru Shintani, left, on March 22 at an evacuation center in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. (Pool)

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited the quake-devastated Noto Peninsula region March 22, praying for those who died and consoling evacuees.

They flew by a Self-Defense Forces helicopter from Noto Satoyama Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture, after landing there on a flight from Tokyo.

They then rode in a van to reach Wajima and Suzu, two of the hardest hit cities.

They prayed at the Wajima Asaichi morning market complex that was destroyed by fire soon after the magnitude-7.6 temblor hit on New Year’s Day.

Wajima Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi explained the extent of the damage to the commercial facility.

Sakaguchi later told reporters that Naruhito expressed sadness over the extensive damage and said he hoped that everyone would work together for reconstruction.

Masako expressed her hope that the Asaichi market could return to normal as soon as possible.

The imperial couple also visited an evacuation center in Wajima housing 105 local residents and sat and talked to them.

One evacuee they spoke with was Mitsuru Shintani, 60.

He later told reporters, “While I had been leading a life full of worries with my mother, I was greatly encouraged by their words.”

The couple also visited an evacuation center in Suzu.

Tetsuo Okada, 68, had evacuated from Wajima and Masako expressed concern about his health.

“I received kind words even as people in the neighborhood are going their separate ways due to the earthquake,” he said.

The couple also offered a silent prayer at Iida Port in Suzu which was devastated by tsunami.

Naruhito and Masako flew back to Tokyo later that day. It was the second time since Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019 for them to visit an area after it was struck by a natural disaster.

(This article was written by Akiko Tada and Yoshinori Doi.)

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