Society

Emperor calls on people to keep 'fire of hope' amid pandemic

Feb 23 (Japan Today) - Emperor Naruhito, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday on Wednesday, called on people in Japan to keep "a fire of hope" burning in their hearts and support each other in the face of challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The emperor also said he felt thankful to health care workers and the many people who have battled against the prolonged pandemic, while offering condolences for the losses suffered in the past year.

"The difficult situation continues, but I strongly believe that it is possible to overcome this severe reality with patience by caring for each other, sharing each other's pain and making efforts to support each other," he said during a press conference held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo ahead of his birthday.

While saying the pandemic has made it difficult for him to meet directly with people, the emperor said he hopes everybody will cherish the bonds they have with each other this year.

The emperor usually greets the public at the Imperial Palace to celebrate the occasion, but his birthday address was canceled for the third year in a row to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In the press conference, he expressed wishes that his niece former Princess Mako will "lead a happy life" after her marriage to commoner Kei Komuro in October. But the emperor said he felt sorry for "causing concern to many people" as the union followed years of controversy over a money dispute involving the husband's family. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

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