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The National Celebration for the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne

Opening Address

Takeo Hiranuma

President, Executive Committee on The Diet Celebration League of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne
(House of Representatives member)

Takeo Hiranuma

 His Majesty the Emperor puts on twenty years becoming a milestone for congratulations since accession to the throne. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to his Majesty the Emperor.

 His Majesty the Emperor achieved 180 times of royal visit in local area until the end of 2007. Visits extended into 514 municipalities including boundary of a country and isolated islands covering all of 47 prefectural and city governments. Sum of greeting people reached to roughly 7.7 million. When viewing successive emperors, his Majesty the Emperor is the first emperor who accomplished royal visits covering all prefectural and city governments.

 During this period, a large number of public encountered hardships beyond all imagination due to miscellaneous massive natural disasters including the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 and the Niigata Prefecture Quake-Strike in 2004. His Majesty the Emperor felt sympathy for disaster-affected areas and continued to give heart to affected people.

 On the other hand, as represented by the parliamentary resolution of 50 years after the war in 1995 and the pitched battle over construction for national funeral facility substituting for the Yasukuni Shinto Shrine back in 2006, modern history of Japan including the Greater East Asian War became the subject of heated debates in world of politics.

 In such a social trend his Majesty the Emperor consummated royal visits to Iwo Jima in 1995, and Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa in 1995. Iwo Jima is an island where Showa Emperor wished royal visit to but it turned sour. Besides, his Majesty the Emperor made royal visit to Saipan in 2005 to pay tribute to multitudes of the war dead, because his Majesty the Emperor wished to pay respects to 2.4 million people “died in foreign parts” who account two-thirds of entire Japanese war dead.

 In addition, his Majesty the Emperor made visitation to 48 overseas countries so far, including visit as a state guest in the period of Crown Prince. Life of his Majesty the Emperor after the first visit to overseas country overlapped with development of our country taking a fresh start after the occupational administration by the Allied Forces was released.

 Our country experienced defeat in war and occupational administration by foreign countries. From the words of his Majesty the Emperor in overseas countries, therefore, I am compulsive to get the message that his Majesty the Emperor asked himself a question as to how our country should redefine the position as a state overcoming the difficult going wreaked by occupation and what is the role played by our country in the world.

 Recent Japan is in a confusion period since accession to the throne by his Majesty the Emperor. Needless to say, presence of his Majesty the Emperor beyond doubt supported our country facing to such a period, in a true sense.

 Once again, I was appointed to President, Executive Committee on The Diet Celebration League of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne. Now I pledge to warm up momentum in celebration all over Japan in order to do in good faith to his Majesty the Emperor along with a private organization The Celebration Committee, and here, I announce the opening of ceremony. Thank you for your kind attention.


Organizer's Address

Yoshiro Mori

Former Prime Minister, and Chairman of The Diet Celebration League of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne

Yoshiro Mori

 His Majesty the Emperor ran into the 20th anniversary of accession to the throne.

 In order to commemorate the recent glad occasion I placed an announcement of “The National Celebration for the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne.” It's a great pleasure for me to have been able to receive guests of public official including government delegate, diplomacy corps to Japan, members of both houses of the Diet, governors of prefectural and city governments, and prefectural assembly chairmen, and also representatives of every sector of society, including business, academic, educational and religious worlds and so on here today.

 In addition, I extend my heartfelt thanks to those who were present numerously from every regions of the country, from Hokkaido of the north-most through Okinawa of the south-most.

 Early in this month his Majesty the Emperor fell sick, and the entire schedule was called off. At a later time his Majesty the Emperor resumed official affairs, but diagnosis was announced officially as to condition of the disease having an irregular heartbeat and producing gastric irritation. So our entire nation currently hopes and waits until his Majesty the Emperor gets better without further delay.

 As a major health hazard, the primary doctor points out strain of worry and tweak. I quite agree because I have such an impression, because their Majesties the Emperor and Empress even pay attention to the details. I frequently attend overseas and domestic royal visit. On this occasion whenever I look closely at their Majesties the Emperor and Empress expanding a great deal of effort for the state and the public, I worry about how anxious their Majesties the Emperor and Empress feel.

 Year after year we are proud to welcome their Majesties the Emperor and Empress in an opening ceremony of National Sports Festival. In the ceremony, elderly active athletes advancing in age of 80’s and 90’s receive an award.

 His Majesty the Emperor says something to every aged athlete at all times. In the Sports Festival held in Hyogo Prefecture last year, an unexpected thing happened. One of those given an award, who was a track and field athlete and 98 years old, took hold of his Majesty the Emperor's hand and lifted his hands up over his head in the fullness of his heart.

 I whispered in his ear to give instant advice to him that he should release his Majesty the Emperor's hand.

 His Majesty the Emperor, however, didn’t care of the incident but talked to me in a gentle manner “Mr. Mori, I don’t care”, and then spoke in warm terms of him while taking his hand and holding it.

 In May 2005 their Majesties the Emperor and Empress visited Kingdom of Norway while I was appointed to a chief staff in attendance.

 Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress partook of the hospitalities of the Norwegian royal family and continued pleasurable journey.

 In Historic City of Trondheim their Majesties the Emperor and Empress went for a row and got off the ship at a market. At the entrance of market a sushi (vinegared rice topped with raw fish) booth was set up and lots of sushi with various kinds of fish were placed on display.

 His Majesty the Emperor was brought to a stand in front of the booth and was looking on the sushi for a while, but soon entered into the market without tasting the sushi.

 The sushi chef of the booth looked disappointed a little bit, so I tasted a couple of sushi in order to improve matters there by encouraging him.

 Immediately before his Majesty the Emperor got in a car after having made a circuit of the market, I was asked unexpectedly by his Majesty the Emperor “How was the sushi, Mr. Mori?” I was really surprised with the eye-opening word. I was deeply moved and simultaneously given cold sweats by knowing that his Majesty the Emperor paid attention to such details as well as looking on my behavior.

 In this manner their Majesties the Emperor and Empress devote their Majesties themselves to have a relationship with overseas people as well as national without showing weary look, so I can't stop worrying about their Majesties’ health.

 Whenever I attend royal visit, I feel his Majesty the Emperor strongly bends the mind to paying a tribute to the memory of war dead. His Majesty Showa Emperor could not achieve royal visit to Okinawa eventually due to disease after all eager wish. However his Majesty the Emperor achieved royal visit to Okinawa as Emperor visiting Okinawa first time ever. Besides Okinawa, visit to Iwo Jima (Iwo Island) and Saipan came true.

 As for royal visit to Saipan, there were many challenges to make it a real possibility. I heard it was finally brought to realization at the strong desire of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, through that the US government had given extra consideration of it as a domestic royal visit.

 In addition, I hear their Majesties the Emperor and Empress wish to continue visiting Islands known as bloodiest battlefield for condolence.

 I think I should hardly address strong mind of his Majesty the Emperor that wishes to hold a memorial service and mourn for war dead taking over feeling his Majesty Showa Emperor has wished to do so.

 In order to extend hearty thanks to activity his Majesty the Emperor accomplished over 20 years, I established with each party representative's support “The Diet Celebration League of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne” on October 16, 2008. I confirmed my determination to develop the commemorative event celebrating the 20th anniversary of accession to the throne along with members of the Diet League in the days ahead

 Here, hoping their Majesties the Emperor and Empress much continued health and extending my sincere wishes for continuing prosperity of the Imperial Household, I conclude my speech.


Organizer's Address

Tadashi Okamura

Chairman of The Celebration Committee of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor’s Accession to the Throne
(The president of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Tadashi Okamura

 His Majesty the Emperor Akihito has marked congratulatory twentieth anniversary from accession to the throne. To express our entire nation’s congratulations, The National Ceremony is now opened, and so many leaders and representatives of every sector of society, the committee members’ relations, and so on, nationwide, are presented. Hereon I sincerely thank very much.

 Especially over a hundred the embassies to Japan are present here, so representing the committee, I express our sincere thank to each of his Excellency the Embassy.

 (Well) On January 7, 1989 His Majesty the emperor succeeded his father Emperor Showa as the 125th emperor, from the day of throne for 2 decades. Making a wish put in the era name of ‘Heisei’ suggesting ‘peace inside and prosperity outward’, we have been doing daily lives looking up to his Majesty the Emperor as core symbol of the nation’s unity.

 Reflecting on the last 2 decades, the opening was the end of the Cold War - the first year of Heisei, in December, 1989, followed by the slumping economy in Japan due to collapse of bubbly economy, Asian currency crisis, regional racial conflicts, series of terrorist attacks on September 11 in the USA, a lot of large-scale natural disasters happened globally, and now global simultaneous deflationary spiral starting with the financial crisis in the USA. So I conclude that, outside and inside Japan it’s the turbulent 2 decades.

 Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress encourages those people who have faced to such difficult situations, and to overcome those difficulties by their wisdom, have continued praying devoutly.

 For the purposes, hoping to have opportunities to face with nation as much as possible, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress made the nationwide royal visits to all prefectures thoroughly, visited aspects of people’s betterment life, and facilities developed and enhanced for industries and welfare, and offer encouragement to persons involved in such works.

 Particularly their Majesties’ energies devoted to console sufferers damaged by large-scale natural disasters, and to make royal visits for paying tribute to the war dead. In those places their Majesties the Emperor and Empress expressed deep sympathy for victims of disasters and wars.

 Whenever we saw their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, in any place at any time, praying for people’s happiness and peace, and sharing people’s grief as their Majesties own, we were so impressed to deepen further the reverence and adoration to both their Majesties and the Imperial Household. At this 20th anniversary, we wish to tell nationwide their Majesties’ sacred achievements, and then wish to dedicate our sincerity to repaying their Majesties.

 As mentioned before, the present our economy is in the face of recession, and is a critical position. So now is the very time when we respond to his Majesty yearning toward general public, that is, we should overcome the predicament by putting our efforts together, and should realize another national growth, of such determinations we renew very now.

 Beside this felicity, on April 10, 2009 we will have another auspicious event, 50th anniversary from the wedding which has been performed under the nation’s big blessing. After having surgery in January 2003, his Majesty has continued official duties without taking holidays.

 According to a source, his Majesty says “I would like to see a lot of people to continue the official duties”, and when given time, by playing tennis, etc, his Majesty keeps in mind maintaining and promoting health. Recently His Majesty has upset his conditions, and temporarily stops the duties. On behalf of the nation I wish his Majesty’s earliest recovery, and their everlasting health and happiness along with her Majesty the Empress.

 Triggered by the National Celebration today, we, the committee will promote the celebrating movement throughout the nation until the end of next year. Through publishing His Majesty’s sacred achievements, Commemorative events, celebrating ceremonies and parades blessed by the entire nation, such movements may be lead to our sincerity concentrated national celebration, for which we ask you all shall support and cooperate together.

 It is decided by the cabinet that the government will hold a celebrating ceremony in November 12, 2009. In this connection we understand that various anniversary projects will be hold also by each ministry and agency.

 Some prefectures have already advanced celebrations. Taking this opportunity, I would like to propose regional government organizations, private companies, and various institutes to perform respective hearty celebrations. Thank you for your cooperation.

 At the closing of my address, commemorating the prosperous for long periods I make a wish for health and happiness of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and more and more prosperity to Imperial Household. Thank you for your attention.


Complimentary Address

Taro Aso

Prime Minister

Taro Aso

 It is very significant for “The National Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne” to become a so big celebration by getting a large number of people involved widely from every sector of society here today. I feel delight with my whole heart.

 His Majesty the Emperor reaches the 20th Anniversary of accession to the Throne on January 7, 2009.

 My government has just decided to hold a celebration ceremony on November 12, 2009. I’m sincerely glad to celebrate with everybody here the 20th anniversary of accession to the throne prior to the governmental ceremony.

 Along with a wish “peace inside and prosperity outward” the reign of “Heisei” starts. Japan has continued with prosperity and development during this period, but in one sense it has been two decades of upheaval both domestically and worldwide.

 In the global circumstances where massive natural disasters, terrorism, international disputes, etc. are frequently happening, when my heart goes out to his Majesty the Emperor’s mind always hoping people’s happiness and peace in the world, .I infer how careworn.

 During this period, his Majesty the Emperor tirelessly exercises diligence in visiting overseas countries in company with her Majesty the Empress for friendship and rapprochement, turning out for miscellaneous events, visitation to disaster-stricken area and so on as well as attending to state affairs in the Imperial Palace.

 Hoping public happiness

 Nearly 15 years have already passed since

 Taking my way all over the place

 This poem was chanted in the annual New Year's Poetry Reading in 2004. I know I'm repeating myself, but how our general public has been encouraged and given courage by virtue of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress retaining word, smile and stance shown like this poem. We are much obliged and return thanks to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

 Currently our country has a bunch of very real problems that need to be overcome. In order to bring peace and untroubled conditions in the future of Japan and public, calm and hope in people's livelihood, and foresight into the future of children, I intend to vigorously push forward devoting myself.

 His Majesty is the symbol of unity of the people as well as the symbol of Japan. In spite of such a difficult time we have been able to celebrate his Majesty the Emperor’s 20th anniversary of accession to the throne. This fact represents bonding of adoration and reliance tying up public and Imperial Household is solid, so it is happy occasion.

 In closing I wish much continued health of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and prosperity of Imperial Household.

 Thank you for your kind attention.


Complimentary Address

Fujio Mitarai

Chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)

Fujio Mitarai

 First of all, I would like to congratulate this year such a joyous moment as the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne.

 At the occasion of establishing the Celebration Committee of the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty The Emperor’s Accession to the Throne, unexpectedly I was nominated as an honorary chairman. I am extremely honored to actively participate in this celebration movement together with all of you.

 I would like to fulfill this weighty responsibility to the best of my ability.

 By the way, the world is in the face of a perceived unprecedented crisis at present. World-wide anxiety about financial system since last year has resulted in credit contraction, which has been impacting on the real sector of economy, seen as slowdown in spending, declining output and deterioration of employment conditions.

 Economic growth of Japan-Europe-U.S., major three pole, has already been turned out as negative. As for the emerging countries that have realized high-level growth, the economies have been also slowing unavoidably.

 Right now, concerns that simultaneous economic recession may happen on a global basis are growing significantly. Therefore, it is required that both the public and private sectors closely work together and employ all policy measures in order to overcome the difficulty of current situation and return the global economy to a growth track.

 Japanese economy has been also under difficult environment, as negative growth is anticipated throughout this year. It is absolutely necessary to implement policy measures decisively based on clear-cut vision in order to get through the crisis and put the economy on sustainable growth.

 In 2007, the year following I became the chairman of Japan Business Federation, I announced a vision for bright future of our country. This vision articulates a road map to transform our country into “Land of hope, Japan” shining brilliantly in the world, under the significant environmental changes including intensifying international competition, coming depopulating society, and so on.

 For this purpose, I have been devoted to the activities, based on the vision, toward developments of Japanese economy for two years so far.

 Thinking over the future of Japan, I believe that it is crucial to share a clear-cut goal for the future of our country among the general public and act together.

 And then, based on good technology and knowledge backed by business results and experiences stacked so far, private sector companies are expected to be leaders to restore economic viability to our country. I would like to continuously make every effort for full of hope nation-building.

 As the second-largest economy in the world, now it is important for Japan to have the economy get back on a recovery track at the earliest possible date by ourselves.

 As a person from the business community, I would like to pledge maximum and every effort so as not to bother His Majesty The Emperor about the economic trouble.

 Lastly, I wish for continued good health of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, glory of the Imperial Family, prosperity of our country, and peace in the world.

 Thank you very much for your kind attention.


Complimentary Address

Wataru Aso

President of the National Governor's Association
(Fukuoka prefectural governor)

Wataru Aso

 Good afternoon, I am Wataru Aso, President of the National Governors’ Association

 His Majesty the Emperor has marked congratulatory twentieth anniversary from accession to the throne. I sincerely express congratulations on this felicity.

 In spite of encountering problems such as bubble economy bust, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, etc. since the accession to the throne, His Majesty the emperor always warmly encourages the nation, so that the present peace and prosperity has been established. Particularly I’d like to emphasize that his Majesty the Emperor has consistently put high considerations on local matters.

 Including not only attendance to the National Tree-planting Ceremony, the National Sports Festival, and other miscellaneous events but also ‘Visit for Regional Understanding’ starting from 1992, his Majesty the Emperor achieved royal visits to all prefectures, over 400 towns and villages.

 In the Visit for Regional Understanding his Majesty the Emperor not only consoles and encourages survivors of disasters and comforts residents in welfare facilities, but also goes over historical, cultural, educational facilities, and sites of environment improvement and local industries characterized in local features. Furthermore His Majesty offers encouragement to those who contribute to betterment of the local welfare and life.

 Royal visit was made when ‘Fukuoka Prefecture West Offing Earthquake’ was happened, and we got words close to our heart from their Majesties the Emperor and Empress respectively, which encouraged us very much leading to a major power for reconstruction.

 His Majesty the Emperor was, on the seaway to disaster island ‘Genkai Jima’, stepping up into the wheelhouse on the second floor and carefully watching the island with his Majesty’s own telescope. In my mind I still have what his Majesty the Emperor was doing, and how might care the disaster victims.

 The Imperial Household is, for us, very ‘Symbol of hope and Unity’.

 Under the present severe economical situation, we the local governments shall, keeping the past supportive warm words of their Majesties ourselves, make effort day by day to bolster the nation’s prosperity further.

 I pray, again, for health of their Majesties and for prosperity to Imperial Household, and may full-heartedly wish the good tie between the Imperial Household and the general public becomes strong further.


Congratulatory Address

Eiichi Ogawa

President, the Japanese Federation of Organizations of the Disabled Persons

Eiichi Ogawa

 Thank you, master of ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, as introduced I’m Eiichi Ogawa working for the Japanese Federation of Organizations of the Disabled Persons. I would like to extend my appreciative words to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

 The Japanese Federation of Organizations of the Disabled Persons was established in 1958. Since then I was in charge of welfare service for the disable and my career became nearly five decades.

 Public eye, however, not necessarily looked to disabled people through that period, so we frequently felt a tightening in our chest. Persons who consistently supported us in this condition, were very their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

 To be more accurate, it is no exaggeration to say that the welfare service for the disable has been able to make great progress by virtue of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

 The thing is that public awareness to disabled people changed significantly. The momentum was Tokyo Paralympics held in 1964 along with Tokyo Olympic Games.

 It was the first time holding in Japan of the world championship activating the exchange of disabled people through sport. At that time their Majesties the Emperor and Empress were crown prince and crown princess. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress each and every day had a visit around the entire site to encourage players, and invited the relevant parties after the event to Crown Prince's Palace for rewarding them for their services.

 At the time, his Majesty the Emperor vouchsafed the following words.

 “I have known that while many Japanese players participating in the games normally live in hospital or care facility, most of foreign players are full member of society, so I believe well-developed physical rehabilitation system is available in foreign countries. I hope domestic sport event like this is organized every year.”

 In the wake of this comment, sport events for disabled people got into being held every year from 1965 during the same time frame of the National Sports Festival.

 Due to making the sport event come true year after year, disabled people whose tastes run to be stay-at-home, turned to get out of care facility to sport. By going through an experience that “if I try, I can do it even with handicap”, they got to have courage and confidence.

 Their family were also encouraged by looking a change in their behavior and given moral support from the aspect. Today we can see advancement of welfare service for the disable. Its spearhead depends upon the fact that his Majesty the Emperor’s comment provided an environment conducive to disabled people’s social participation through sport events and the general public deepened their understanding of handicap and disabled people.

 In addition, their Majesties the Emperor and Empress make it a point to visit disabilities-related facilities on each royal visit in the provinces. With the help of coverage about royal visits, disabilities-related facilities observed rather as excluded so far turned spotlighted, so that disable people got to know benignancy of the general public.

 Several years ago, I was invited to an imperial garden party. His Majesty the Emperor asked me “how are disable people?” and I respectfully answered “they assume cheerfulness and live respective lives to the extreme”. To my answer, his Majesty the Emperor encouraged me by vouchsafing gracious words “More power to you for disable people!”

 I believe the Imperial Family, which kindly signals a commitment to disable people as one of the public even with handicap and fill not only disable people and their family but also relevant parties of welfare service with courage and confidence, represents the lambent national character inherent in Japan.

 In addition to expressing our thanks to past effort by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, I extend my heartfelt wish to health of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.


Address of Thanks to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress

Kazunori Zamami

Honorary Chairman, Bereaved Family of Okinawa Prefecture War Dead Joint Association

Kazunori Zamami

 I'm Kazunori Zamami participating from Okinawa Prefecture so as to extend my deepest appreciation to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress taking compassion on victims in Okinawa with extraordinary sense of sympathy.

 I was privileged with the honor of being received 5 times by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress so far. The most impressive audience was when his Majesty the Emperor made royal visit to Okinawa in 1993 for the first time after accession to the throne, for attending the National Tree-planting Ceremony held in Okinawa Prefecture.

 On April 23, their Majesties the Emperor and Empress headed for battle site located in the south known as bloodiest battlefield in Battle of Okinawa immediately after arriving at Naha Airport, and paid floral tribute and worshipped to victims at the National Okinawa War Dead Burial Park for the first time as his Majesty the Emperor.

 Following to worship to the cenotaph, his Majesty the Emperor vouchsafed a speech about 5 minutes in the Okinawa Peace Praying Hall, in front of 150 persons representing bereaved families of each municipality. Hearing words getting hot with emotion "I realized my wish to visit Okinawa Prefecture taking the first available opportunity after accession to the throne", I became strongly aware of feeling his Majesty the Emperor was conceiving that victims in Okinawa should be wholeheartedly worshipped. I believe such words to people who became prey to ensure state assurance, turned out to hold a memorial service for departed souls.

 After the speech, their Majesties the Emperor and Empress stood in front of 10 persons representing bereaved families standing in the front row and addressed person by person in a mellow kind voice. "Who did become a martyr to the war? You had had a tough life, hadn't you?" Hearing such words from his Majesty the Emperor, one of wives of war dead couldn't raise her eyes getting lost for words in the fullness of her heart. One of bereaved children interpreted that these words were vouchsafed for mother who died bearing up rigor of life after the end of war, and brought tears to eyes saying “I feel our parent-child-suffering so far has been rewarded at once. I’m going to talk to departed parents soon on their grave.”

 As I was Chairman of Bereaved Family of Okinawa Prefecture War Dead Joint Association, representing bereaved families in the closing speech of audience ceremony I returned thanks to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. “I certainly deliver your Majesty’s inner thoughts to many people whose admission here has not been permitted.” Memory of the day inspired with words vouchsafed directly from his Majesty the Emperor still offers mental and spiritual sustenance of our bereaved families.

 Next I would like to introduce traditional Okinawan poem given by his Majesty the Emperor.

 The traditional Okinawan poem is a tanka (Japanese poetry) particular in Okinawa based on four lines of 8, 8, 8, and 6 syllables. His Majesty the Emperor at that time of Crown Prince visited Okinawa in 1975 and composed a poem about feeling of visiting a series of battle site in the south first time ever.

 push my way among vegetation grown thick

 drift from battle site to battle site

 whenever look fought field repeatedly

 my heart goes out to then

 Titled “Mabuni”, this traditional Okinawan poem is introduced every year in Okinawa in the event of memorial service for the war dead. On the evening before June 23 when Battle of Okinawa was over with defeat of Japan, an eve prior to the Memorial Service for All The War Dead of Okinawa is held in the Okinawa Peace Praying Hall. “Mabuni” as traditional Okinawan poem is dedicated to all the war dead along with tune in Ryukyuan classic music. In fact, we every year have contact with traditional Okinawan poem composed by his Majesty the Emperor, mourn for war dead, and renew our vow for peace.

 Okinawa had the wrenching history during and after the war. However, how much were we supported and encouraged by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress taking compassion deeply on Okinawa? Their Majesties! Thanks so much!

 In closing I wish their Majesties the Emperor and Empress much continued health and extend my sincere wishes for the continuing prosperity of the Imperial Household.


Address of Thanks to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress

Yoshio Karita

Former Grand Master of the Ceremonies、Imperial Household Agency

Yoshio Karita

 It's a great honor for me to get to extend my thanks to his Majesty the Emperor here today.

 Consistently hoping happiness of the general public and peace in the world, his Majesty the Emperor makes an all-out effort in order to run the gamut of extremely miscellaneous official affairs one by one since accession to the throne. All of us who attended close on his Majesty the Emperor were always impressed from the heart at diligent attitude.

 Today I would like to talk about royal visits to overseas countries his Majesty the Emperor has made.

 An overseas trip is abundantly grand affair among official affairs his Majesty the Emperor has to run. Usually time frame necessary for preparation before overseas trip requires longer than half a year. Once a destination of visit is fixed, their Majesties the Emperor and Empress make cordial preparation such as the state of affairs as of then in the planned-visit country, time schedule, and word for word spoken in a lot of ceremonies and events with extra regard to all the aspect of visit. During royal visit, their Majesties the Emperor and Empress engage in every single-minded effort to make exertions regardless of fatigue.

 Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress have visited 31 countries including official and unofficial visits in past twenty years, making a positive impression on people in each case and playing a large role to deepen friendship.

 What particularly stood out in my memory attending on overseas trip was the scale of welcome in respective countries. In Kingdom of Thailand where his Majesty the Emperor officially visited first after accession to the throne, we received a big welcome much of wherever we went and an air of excitement by a large number of people really came as a surprise to me. People there swarming along the route kept wave their hand without umbrella in face of big rainfall even when they were caught in a squall particular to a southern land.

 In Shanghai, China, big crowd more than two hundred thousand assembled in the main street waved their hand and gave us a cheer during passage of a parade by cars.

 In Brazil where Japanese immigrants and their children more than a million resided, the tide of people giving a welcome to his Majesty the Emperor occupied the roadside area from airport to city and the site of welcome ceremony in each city. Such a big welcome was repeated in countries his Majesty the Emperor visited. I can picture every scene of them vividly.

 In the overseas visit, after the official events such as the interview with first magistrate and top governmental officials, and the state dinner, I often heard many attendees expressing their impression that they had been hit in a deep sentiment to their countries their Majesties the Emperor and Empress had shown.

 Moreover, respecting the intention that their Majesties the Emperor and Empress desire to contact with as many people as possible, visit programs include attendance to cultural events in which the citizenry participates, go-see to school and hospital, visit to care facilities for elderly people and so on. The aspect of contacting faithfully with such a people is made a detailed report by means of TV, radio and newspaper to prevail nationwide, along with friendly personality of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress shown in each place.

 People of the nation very know as much about Japan by facing up to the real picture of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

 I frequently felt in my bones as much about aspects that people’s attitude of volte-face to Japan has been observed during short visit from few days to a week.

 In this way, it is not out of the way that people normally gives a welcome to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress with much interest and affinity more than you imagine. This indicates magnitude of interest to the country named Japan, especially the magnitude of interest to the Imperial Household of Japan maintaining the longest history and tradition in the world. I believe, however, the one thing that's more important than anything else is due to personality of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress shown during visit and touching people's mind in each visiting place by behaving in sincere and tender attitude.

 Whenever I go out abroad, I learn anew the praiseworthiness of Japan blessed with its long history, the beauty of nature and a full of variety four-season climate, hardworking and orderly national identity and so on. In addition, especially, I realize how the presence of Imperial Household as boast to the world contributes to aggrandize the moral tone of Japan and receive favor and respect to Japan from overseas countries, so I refresh affection of deep gratitude to the presence.

 While I think we are happy to have such Imperial Household, I wish from the heart the maintenance of institution is geared to have Imperial Household continue to further exist long time and flourish.

 I express my heartfelt thanks to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and I also wish much continued health and eternal prosperity of Imperial Household.

 Thank you for your kind attention.

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