By AYAKO NAKADA/ Staff Writer
January 2, 2025 at 13:36 JST
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, foreground, attend the New Year reception at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 1. (Pool)
Emperor Naruhito expressed his wishes for the people’s well-being and the nation’s development at an annual New Year reception at the Imperial Palace.
Naruhito and Empress Masako received New Year greetings on Jan. 1 from other imperial family members, leaders of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, and ambassadors of foreign countries.
“It is my great pleasure to celebrate the new year together,” Naruhito, dressed in a tailcoat and wearing decorations, told guests at the Matsu-no-Ma state room. “At the beginning of the year, I pray for the happiness of the people and the development of the nation.”
Princess Aiko, daughter of the imperial couple, was in attendance, as were Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko and their daughter, Princess Kako.
Female imperial family members wore formal white long dresses and tiaras.
Prince Hisahito, son of Fumihito and Kiko, was absent because the prince, who turned 18 in September, has yet to perform a coming-of-age ritual.
He separately gave New Year greetings to Naruhito and Masako at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 1.
Members of the houses of Prince Mikasa and Prince Takamado did not attend the reception because Princess Yuriko, widow of Prince Mikasa and aunt of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, died at the age of 101 in November.
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