On June 1, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan attended a “…tree-planting ceremony in Nagaoka in the Niigata Prefecture…” according to Kyodo News.
Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Racecourse, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan attended the opening of the Japan Derby Races.
On Tuesday, May 27, 2014, the Imperial Household Agency, with the blessing of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, announced the engagement of Her Imperial Highness Princess Noriko of Takamado to Mr. Kunimaro Senge.
Mr. Senge, 40, is the eldest son of the Chief Priest of the Izumo Grand Shrine. The wedding will take place in the Fall of 2014.
Congrats to the couple and many thanks to Mr. L.F. Teixeira for the breaking news about the imperial engagement! 🙂
On Monday, May 26, 2014, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan held an audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina.
Meanwhile, Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Japan accompanied by the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, attended a “…ceremony to place the ashes of those who perished during World War II at the national cemetery for the war dead in Tokyo…” according to AFP News.
Photo courtesy of Yahoo News
On May 21, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived in the Tochigi Prefecture to begin their two-day visit to the region.
According to Kyodo News, the visit is “…in line with their wish to observe the recovery of the environment once destroyed by mineral poisoning from the prefecture’s Ashio Copper Mine.”
On Monday, May 19, 2014, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko of Japan prepared “…mulberry leaves with the help of her aide to feed silkworms at a cocoonery in the Imperial Palace…” according to Kyodo News.
On the evening of April 24, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan accompanied by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, and Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan hosted a gala state banquet at the Imperial Palace in honor of the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, visit to Tokyo.
On Thursday, April 24, 2014, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan welcomed the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
After the official welcoming ceremony in the inner courtyard of the palace Emperor Akihito and President Obama held a private meeting according to the Associated Press.
The Royal Correspondent 