On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan accompanied by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, arrived at the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo to attend an “…opening reception in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland…” according to NHK News.

On Monday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan held an audience with President Burkhalter and his wife, First Lady Sabine Burkhalter, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Click here to watch a video news report.

On Saturday, January 25, 2014, Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan attended a traditional folklore show at the National Theatre in Tokyo.

According to Kyodo News, the performance featured:

“…songs and dances from Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, which suffered serious damage from the March 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami. The event was held to support reconstruction efforts in the prefectures.”

On January 23, 2014, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan gave a lecture at the Gakushuin Women’s College in Shinjuku, Tokyo.  During his hour and a half lecture the future emperor spoke about “…Heian Era and powerful Saionji aristocratic family…”  or something like that.  Sorry.   😦

On January 20, 2014, Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan arrived at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa in Tokyo to preside over a send off/farewell/good luck ceremony for the Japanese athletes participating in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

I hope that made some sense.   🙂  Anyway, for more information about yesterday’s event please click here.

On the evening of Friday, January 17, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived at the Kioi Hall in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, to attend a classical music concert performed by Japanese violinist, Ms. Yuriko Kuronuma.

On Wednesday, January 15, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan accompanied by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan as well as other members of the Imperial family participated the annual Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading) held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

According to the IHA, this year’s theme: Sei (Quiet).

A  Waka poem by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito:

Spreading beyond

The memorial monument

I see before me

The sea of Minamata

So blue, so calm, and so still.

Ireihi no

Saki ni hirogaru

Minamata no

Umi aokushite

Shizuka narikeri

A Waka poem by Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko::

I now leave to serve

The deity soon to be moved

To a newly built shrine”

So saying with eyes serene

Our daughter left for Ise.

Miutsuri no

Chikaki miyai ni

Tsukauruto

Hitomi shizukani

Ko wa iite tatsu

A Waka poem by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito:

The graceful sound of singing is heard in the stillness of the Sanctuary during the Niiname-sai.

A Waka poem by Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako:

As though it enwraps even the sorrow, the sea off Kamaishi lies in tranquility.