Sep 14 (NHK) - Emperor Akihito has harvested rice at a paddy field in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, as part of an annual event.
He planted rice in the paddy, which is about 240 square meters in size, in May. On Wednesday, he used a sickle to reap 2 varieties of rice, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of trousers.
Officials at the Imperial Household Agency said the rice had generally grown without any problems, although daylight hours last month were shorter than usual. They added this year's harvest is about average.
Source: ANNnewsCH