Japan’s Emperor Marks 66th Birthday

Feb 23, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Emperor Naruhito turned 66 on February 23rd, marking the occasion with a press conference in which he reflected on the state of the nation and expressed his concern for people affected by natural disasters, as tens of thousands later gathered at the Imperial Palace for a public greeting held under unseasonably warm weather.

Ahead of his birthday, the Emperor addressed reporters at a press conference in the Ishibashi-no-Ma hall of the Imperial Palace, noting that this year marks 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and 10 years since the Kumamoto Earthquake, and said, "The impact of disasters differs for each person and carries a weight that cannot be measured simply by the passage of time. I would like to continue keeping those in disaster-hit areas in my thoughts."

He spoke about communities still recovering from recent calamities and reiterated his hope that reconstruction efforts will continue steadily, conveying sympathy for those who have suffered damage and loss and stressing the importance of remaining close to people facing hardship.

On February 23rd, the Emperor and Empress appeared on the palace balcony together with Princess Aiko and members of the Akishino family for the annual public greeting, with Prince Hisahito attending the Emperor’s birthday greeting for the first time following his coming-of-age ceremony in 2025. The Imperial family appeared on the balcony three times, and about 21,000 well-wishers gathered to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday.

In remarks to the crowd, the Emperor said, "I am truly grateful that you have come here on my birthday and offered your congratulations. I feel that each day brings us closer to spring. I hope it will be a gentle spring for each and every one of you." The Emperor and Empress responded to the cheers with calm smiles, while Princess Aiko, dressed in coordinated tones with the Empress, stood beside Princess Kako and waved to visitors.

Temperatures in central Tokyo rose to 22.9 degrees Celsius on February 23rd, comparable to early May, as clear skies drew large crowds to the Imperial Palace and other leisure spots on the final day of the three-day holiday weekend. The Japan Meteorological Agency also announced that the first spring wind had blown across the Kanto region for the first time in two years.

The full, unedited video of the Emperor’s press conference has been released, providing a comprehensive account of his remarks as he marked his 66th birthday and reflected on the nation’s recovery from past disasters.

Source: FNN

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