TOKYO - Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted the annual autumn garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on October 29, welcoming approximately 1,400 guests, including actor Kotaro Yoshida and novelist Miyuki Miyabe, while female members of the Imperial Family attended in traditional Japanese attire.
The gathering began shortly before 2 p.m., bringing together distinguished figures from the arts, culture, sports and other fields who have made significant contributions to Japanese society.
Twelve members of the Imperial Family attended, including the Emperor and Empress, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Aiko and Princess Kako, giving invited guests an opportunity to speak directly with members of the Imperial Family.
Among those attending were Miyabe and Yoshida, both recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon in the spring honors announced earlier this year in recognition of their achievements in literature and the performing arts.
Yoshida expressed his surprise and delight at meeting the Emperor and Empress. "I never dreamed that I would have the chance to meet and speak directly with the Emperor and Empress in my lifetime," he said.
The Emperor responded warmly, saying, "I have seen you on television."
Their conversation turned to Yoshida's family life when the actor mentioned that he has two young children, aged five and one and a half.
The Empress asked whether he spent time playing with them. "Of course I do," Yoshida replied, adding that looking after young children requires considerable physical energy.
Princess Aiko, the Emperor and Empress's daughter, also spoke with Yoshida about his career, praising the breadth of his performances and his contributions to nurturing younger actors.
"You have been active in such a wide range of productions, both as a Shakespearean actor and in training the next generation," she said.
The garden party also provided an opportunity for the Emperor and Empress to renew their concern for communities affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which caused widespread destruction in southwestern Japan.
Speaking with Nobuyoshi Takeuchi, vice governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Imperial couple recalled their visit to affected areas in September.
The Empress thanked local officials for their preparations during the visit, while the Emperor expressed his hope that their presence had offered encouragement to residents.
"I would be glad if we were able to provide some support," the Emperor said.
The Empress also reflected on the disaster nearly a decade earlier and asked Takeuchi whether his home was located in Kumamoto City.
Their remarks underscored the Imperial couple's continuing concern for communities still dealing with the long-term consequences of the earthquakes.
Baseball was another topic of conversation, particularly when Tomoko Namba, owner of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, spoke with the Imperial couple.
"We lost in the Japan Series yesterday," Namba said, referring to her team's defeat in the championship competition.
The Empress, who played softball during her school years, revealed that she had been a fan of the Yokohama Taiyo Whales, the predecessor of the BayStars, during junior high school.
Namba reacted with surprise, saying she had not known about the Empress's longstanding connection to the team.
The Emperor then recalled a family outing to Jingu Stadium when Princess Aiko was young.
"When Aiko was little, the three of us went to Jingu Stadium to watch a BayStars game," he said.
The exchange offered a glimpse into the Imperial Family's personal interests, with conversations ranging from parenting and theater to professional baseball and disaster recovery.
The autumn garden party, one of the Imperial Household's major annual social occasions, concluded in a relaxed atmosphere as the Emperor, Empress and other members of the Imperial Family continued speaking with guests recognized for their contributions to Japanese society.
Source: TBS
