Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family greeted the nation from the palace balcony. He recalled the importance of peace on the anniversaries of the Second World War and discussed the rules of succession.
On Friday, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito addressed the people of the country on the occasion of the New Year with his family on the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, according to custom. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AP agency.
The annual New Year’s performance by the emperor and his family draws crowds to the palace, which is located in the center of the capital and is usually closed to the public. In a previously published speech, Naruhito recalled that in 2025, exactly 80 years had passed since the end of World War II. He therefore emphasized the importance of the message of peace, given that armed conflicts persist in some parts of the world.
“I believe it is very important that people continue to dialogue and strive to deepen mutual understanding so that we can build a world of peace,” he said.
Discussion of successors
In his speech, he also addressed natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rains, snow disasters and forest fires that have affected Japan in the past period. Princess Aiko, the only child of the imperial couple, was also present. He is at the center of a wide public debate about the rules that currently allow only men to inherit the throne.
Also attracting attention is the presence of Naruhito’s nephew Hisahito, who participates in imperial events as a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line to the succession after his father, the emperor’s brother Fumihito.
Naruhito’s father Akihito, who abdicated in 2019, stood by his son’s side during the speech, along with his wife Michiko. In 2024, the emperor’s annual appearance was canceled due to the earthquake on the Noto Peninsula on the island of Honshu, which claimed hundreds of lives. In 2021 and 2022, the emperor canceled the speech due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Japanese emperor does not have political power, he has great symbolic importance for the country.
