Emperor’s New Year Message: A Year to Move Forward With Hope

Jan 01, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The Imperial Family welcomed the New Year on January 1, with the Emperor releasing a message through the Imperial Household Agency expressing his hopes that the year ahead will be one in which people in Japan and around the world can move forward with hope.

Reflecting on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war last year, the Emperor said he had once again been reminded of the preciousness of peace and the importance of passing those memories on to future generations.

On New Year’s Day, the Emperor and Empress attended the traditional New Year’s Greeting Ceremony at the Imperial Palace, which was broadcast in full. The annual ceremony is an occasion in which members of the Imperial Family receive New Year greetings from representatives of the government, including the prime minister.

At around 11 a.m., the Emperor and Empress received congratulations from representatives of both houses of the Diet in the Matsu-no-Ma hall of the Imperial Palace. The Emperor said he was truly pleased to celebrate the start of the new year together and added that he prayed for the happiness of the people and the continued development of the nation.

The Empress, Princess Kiko and Princess Aiko attended the ceremony wearing tiaras, while Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Crown Prince Akishino, took part for the first time following his coming-of-age ceremony in September last year.

Prince Hisahito is also scheduled to make his first appearance at the New Year’s public greeting at the Imperial Palace on January 2.

Source: TBS

Tokyo Metro Unveils New Headquarters

Tokyo Metro has unveiled its new headquarters ahead of a full relocation at the end of August, featuring an open office design filled with route symbols, station names and other elements inspired by the subway network.

Tokyo to Resume Black Bear Hunting

Tokyo is preparing to allow hunting of Asian black bears for the first time in about 20 years, with a proposed hunting season from November through February and an annual capture target of around 34 animals in parts of the Tama region, including Hachioji.

Typhoon No. 18 Moves North-West Toward Japan

Typhoon No. 18 (Soudelor) formed near the Truk Islands on August 19 and is forecast to strengthen as it gradually turns northwest, potentially approaching the Ogasawara Islands before moving toward Okinawa or the Pacific coast of western Japan.

Moss-Covered Healing Forest Draws Visitors

After 10 p.m., the clouds that had covered the sky above Shirakoma Pond gradually began to clear, revealing countless stars and the Milky Way rising vividly over the mountain lake in Nagano Prefecture's Northern Yatsugatake range.

Fire Breaks Out at Sairinji Temple in Saga

A fire broke out at Sairinji temple in Saga city on the morning of August 18, engulfing the building in flames and prompting the dispatch of 10 fire engines and two ambulances, with no injuries reported so far.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Vandal Caught Smashing Iconic Lantern in Kyoto's Gion

Police are investigating after a custom-made chili pepper-shaped lantern worth more than 200,000 yen was smashed outside a restaurant in Kyoto's Gion district, with security camera footage capturing a person striking and destroying the shop's distinctive symbol.

Fire Breaks Out at Sairinji Temple in Saga

Princess Aiko Expresses Condolences for Kumamoto Earthquake Victims

Princess Aiko attended the opening ceremony of an international conference on semiconductor physics on the morning of August 17, expressing condolences for those killed in the Kumamoto earthquake and torrential rain in Chiba Prefecture before addressing researchers from around the world.

Man Accused of Attempted Murder Goes Missing From Hospital

A 77-year-old man charged with attempted murder has gone missing after apparently leaving a hospital in Hakodate, Hokkaido, where he had been admitted for medical treatment, prompting prosecutors and police to search for him.

Hunter Takes Shot at Authorities Over Missing Gun

A 77-year-old hunter from Sunagawa, Hokkaido, who won a Supreme Court ruling overturning the revocation of his firearms license, filed a damages lawsuit against the national government and Hokkaido on August 17 after discovering that one of four seized hunting rifles had been destroyed years earlier without being returned to him.

Missing British Girl, 12, Found Safe After Staying at Internet Cafe

A 12-year-old British girl who disappeared while visiting Japan with her family was found safe in Yokohama on Saturday night, about 59 hours after leaving their private lodging in Tokyo, with police saying there was no indication that she had been involved in a crime.

Chinese Investment Reshapes Osaka's Nishinari Neighborhood

Osaka's Nishinari Ward, long known as a working-class neighborhood that accepted people from diverse backgrounds, is being rapidly reshaped by Chinese-led property development and a surge in special-zone private lodgings, bringing new business and tourism while displacing some longtime elderly residents.

Chiba Flood Death Toll Rises to 10 Three Days After Record Rain

The death toll from record-breaking torrential rain in Chiba Prefecture has risen to 10, with 29 people injured, more than 1,500 homes damaged and one person still missing three days after the disaster.

< 2 3 4 5 >