天皇誕生日
Yesterday (23 February) was a national holiday in Japan to celebrate the 66th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. Because Emperor Naruhito is scheduled for only two public appearances each year (one in early January for a new year greeting and the second on his birthday), I wanted to take advantage of this rare cultural opportunity. I’m so glad I did, because it was a special experience.
I arrived at the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo at approximately 9:45am and, upon entering, received a Japanese flag to wave during the Emperor’s public appearance. After a security checkpoint, I waited in line with thousands of others—some of whom traveled from other parts of Japan—to take part in the celebratory day. The Japanese government published the official visitor count today, and 26,973 people attended. I was queued up for a little less than one hour until we were allowed to proceed to the viewing area outside of the Imperial Palace’s Chowa-Den Hall. What struck me (which is becoming a theme during my time in Japan) was the order and respect throughout the process as well as the relative quiet among the crowd (even with thousands of people gathered).
At 11:00am sharp, Emperor Naruhito appeared on the balcony followed by Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. They were joined by Crown Prince and Princess Akishino and their children, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. The crowd waved their flags exuberantly in celebration until Emperor Naruhito spoke to make a few brief remarks in Japanese. He expressed sympathy regarding damage that heavy snow in northern Japan caused this year (with some deaths) and concluded by expressing hope for a peaceful spring season and wishing the audience health and happiness. The imperial family then waved to the audience before leaving the balcony at approximately 11:05am. It was a brief but very memorable experience that allowed me to savor a rare event that is part of this beautiful culture.
