Society

Empress Emerita Publishes 466 Unreleased Poems

TOKYO, Jan 15 (News On Japan) - A poetry collection featuring 466 previously unpublished poems by Empress Emerita Michiko will be published on January 15.

Titled "Yufusuge," the collection includes poems composed by the Empress Emerita during the Showa and Heisei eras. The publication came to fruition after Nagata Kazuhiro, a literary advisor to the Imperial Family, strongly recommended making the works widely known. His efforts, in coordination with the Imperial Household Agency, led to the release of the collection.

Last year, Empress Emerita Michiko fractured her right femur and underwent rehabilitation. According to close aides, she attended the New Year's event on January 1st without using a cane at all when greeting attendees.

She also attended the New Year’s public greeting on January 2nd alongside Emperor Emeritus Akihito.

The Imperial couple reportedly maintains a daily routine of walking within the grounds of the Sentō Imperial Residence, including stairs in the morning, and strolling around the Akasaka Imperial Grounds in the afternoon.

Close aides have stated that going forward, "Rather than post-surgery rehabilitation, the walking practice is intended to prevent falls, given their advanced age."

Source: ANN

Osaka Expands Indoor Smoking Ban

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.

Japan's Imperial Household Launches YouTube Channel

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

New Recruits Across Japan Mark First Day as Working Adults

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Death Toll Could Reach 298,000 in Nankai Trough Megaquake

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Tokyo's Cherry Blossoms Bloom Early This Year

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on March 30th that cherry blossoms (Somei-Yoshino) in central Tokyo have reached full bloom, one day earlier than the historical average and five days earlier than last year.

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