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Former Emperor Akihito visits palace for first time since March

May 29 (Japan Times) - Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited a biology research institute inside the Imperial Palace on Thursday in his first return to the palace since moving to a temporary residence in Tokyo about two months ago, the Imperial Household Agency said.

The former emperor has long conducted research at the institute on goby fish and published academic papers.

The visit was also the first outing by the 86-year-old since he and former Empress Michiko, 85, left their home of 26 years to move into the Takanawa Imperial Residence in Tokyoâ€™s Minato Ward.

The emperor emeritus, who abdicated on April 30 last year as the first Japanese monarch to step down in around 200 years, had been refraining from going out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The move in March was part of a process of swapping residences with the coupleâ€™s son Emperor Naruhito and his family, who currently reside in the Akasaka Imperial Residence.

Wearing a face mask, the former emperor left his residence at around 10 a.m. and arrived at a gate of the Imperial Palace in a car about 10 minutes later. He left the palace at around 11:40 a.m., waving to the roadside crowd.

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