Empress attends Japanese Red Cross Society gathering

The Yomiuri Shimbun

18:00 JST, May 19, 2022

The Empress attended the Japanese Red Cross Society’s national assembly in Tokyo on Thursday for the first time in three years, after the annual convention had been canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Empress, who is the society’s honorary president, presented medals of merit to a total of 13 individuals and representatives of organizations for their contributions to promoting the society’s activities. Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa and Princess Hisako of Takamado, who are honorary vice presidents of the society, also attended the gathering held at the Meiji Jingu Kaikan hall in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. About 600 people participated in the event.

It was the first solo official duty outside the palace for the Empress since the 47th Florence Nightingale Medal award ceremony in August 2019.