His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan played the Viola during a concert held at the Metropolitan Art Space in Tokyo with members of the Gakushuin OB Orchestra this evening. Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan accompanied by Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako of Japan attended tonight’s concert to support the crown prince.
According to Kyodo News, the Viola used by the crown prince was made of driftwood and a part of the Rikuzentakata “miracle pine tree” that survived the March 11, 2011, tsunami caused by the 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Tōhoku.
On Friday, July 5, 2013, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan continued their visitto the Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. In the morning, Their Imperial Majesties visited the city of Rikuzentakata which was left in ruins after the March 11, 2011, tsunami caused by the 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Tōhoku.
Whilst in the city Their Imperial Majesties met with 400 people who are living in a temporary housing complex and visited (actually viewed from their car) the well-known “miracle pine tree.” The emperor and empress also visited a factory in Ofunato just north of Rikuzentakata.
In other news, the newspaper, Japan Times, reports that Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko has translated a “…collection of poems by Michio Mado into English and was published last month in two volumes…”Click herefor more information about this latest news.
On the afternoon of July 4, 2013, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived in Tōno, Japan to visit a temporary housing complex for 70 families who lost their homes due to the March 11, 2011, 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Tōhoku. The powerful earthquake caused a massive tsunami which devastated areas within the Iwate Prefecture.
On June 23, 2013, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto to attend the opening ceremony of the 11th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry.
This morning Their Imperial Majesties visited the Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art in Kyoto. Afterward, the emperor and empress travelled to Osaka where they visited the Osaka Prefecture Environmental Learning Center Eco Museum of Osaka and in the evening they toured a manufacturing company.
On June 21, 2013, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived in Kyoto to visit the Myōshin-ji Buddhist Temple which stands upon “…the grounds of the former palace of the late Emperor Hanazono of Japan.”
In the evening, Their Imperial Majesties attended a tea party at the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
On the morning of June 17, 2013, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan arrived at the Japan Academy headquarters in Ueno Park, Tokyo, to attend the 2013 Japan Academy Prize.
Each year the prize is awarded to an individual who has “…achieved notable research landmarks or who has authored outstanding academic papers or books.” The winner of the 2013 Japan Academy Prize went to Professor Jun Matsuura, specializing in European Literature, from the University of Tokyo.
After a successful official visit to Spain this past week His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan finally arrived home to Tokyo. Once the formal welcome home ceremony was over at the airport His Imperial Highness was driven to the palace where Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako and Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko were eagerly waiting for him.
And, that’s it. 🙂
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The Royal Correspondent 