Society

Japan emperor, empress encourage victims in typhoon-hit areas of northeast

Dec 27 (Kyodo) - Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Thursday visited areas in northeastern Japan that were hit by a powerful typhoon in October to encourage the victims, in the couple's first trip to disaster-hit regions since the emperor's enthronement in May.

The couple visited Marumori in Miyagi Prefecture as well as Motomiya in Fukushima Prefecture to see areas that were inundated as Typhoon Hagibis passed. The typhoon left more than 90 people dead, including a total 17 in the two municipalities.

The visit followed the completion earlier this month of a series of ceremonies marking the imperial succession.

After arriving in Marumori on a Self-Defense Forces helicopter and visiting an area where a river had overflowed, the couple met affected people including Masao Takano, 86, who has been living in temporary housing since his home was destroyed by the typhoon.

"You must have had a hard time. I am glad you were safe," the emperor told Takano. "I hope your life will be more settled," the empress told him.

The couple then went to Motomiya to view an area where an embankment along the Adatara River had collapsed and met with victims at a welfare facility.

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