Society

Empress Completes 2025 Silkworm Ritual

TOKYO, Jul 29 (News On Japan) - Empress Masako has completed her annual silkworm-rearing duties at the Imperial Palace, a tradition passed down through generations of empresses since the Meiji era.

On this occasion, she took part in the closing ritual known as the "Goyōsan-no-gi," in which silk threads produced from the harvested cocoons are ceremonially offered before the gods.

In 2025, the Empress raised four types of silkworms. As in 2024, silk from the domestically bred Koishimaru variety was prepared for presentation to the Ise Grand Shrine, ahead of its Shikinen Sengu rebuilding ritual scheduled for 2033.

According to palace officials, Emperor Naruhito and their daughter Aiko assisted in the process on July 26th. The Empress expressed her deep gratitude for the successful rearing and offered words of appreciation to the staff involved.

Source: FNN

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

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