Imperial Family’s Public New Year Greetings to Be Canceled Due to Noto Peninsula Earthquake (UPDATE 1)
8:56 JST, January 2, 2024 (updated at 10:05 JST)
The Imperial family’s New Year public greetings scheduled for Tuesday at the Imperial Palace were canceled in light of the massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday afternoon.
The Imperial Household Agency made the cancellation announcement on Monday night.
The agency said that the Emperor and Empress are incredibly worried about the situation in the affected areas and hope rescue efforts in the cold weather will be conducted as quickly as possible.
Considering the Emperor and Empress’ sentiments, the agency canceled the event.
The Imperial family’s New Year public greetings were canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year is the first time the event has been canceled due to a natural disaster.
This year would have been the first time since the pandemic that the greetings would have returned to almost full form.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
-
U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
-
JAL Airplane Experiences Radio Malfunction During Flight, Lands Safely By Relying on Light Signals
-
Cherry tree falls on man on Sanneizaka steps leading to famous Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto
-
Strong Earthquake Rocks Southern Part of Kyushu; No Risk of a Tsunami
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Japan Household Spending Down 0.5% in Feb.
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’