TOKYO: A New Year’s celebration ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday, with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greeted by other Imperial Family members and those including the heads of the three branches of the state.

It is the first official duty for Princess Aiko, the daughter of the Imperial couple, since she attended her own coming-of-age events Dec. 5 last year, four days after she turned 20.

The New Year’s ceremony was scaled down for the second straight year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Imperial Family members, including Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of the Emperor, delivered statements to celebrate the arrival of the New Year to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the ceremony held on the first day of 2022, followed by similar greetings by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, cabinet ministers and those including the heads of both chambers of the Diet, Japan’s parliament.

Then, Emperor Naruhito read a message in response.

Reflecting the Emperor’s wish, female members of the Imperial Family did not wear tiaras at the ceremony in consideration of COVID-19 hardships facing many members of the public, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

A New Year’s event in which the Emperor and other Imperial Family members greet the public at the palace in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward usually on Jan. 2 has been canceled this year for two years in a row as Japan remains in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, Emperor Naruhito, as he did in 2021, released a video message on New Year’s Day. In this year’s message, the Emperor expressed his wish to meet the public in person again.

JIJI Press