Japan’s Emperor Turns 66, Expresses Sympathy for Regions Hit by Heavy Snow (UPDATE 1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:49 JST, February 23, 2026 (updated at 14:41 JST)

The Emperor received well-wishes from members of the public gathering to celebrate his 66th birthday at the Imperial Palace on Monday.

The Emperor appeared on the balcony of the palace’s Chowa-den hall three times in the morning, accompanied by the Empress, their daughter Princess Aiko, and Crown Prince Akishino and his family.

“I’d like to express my sincere sympathy to people who were involved in snow-related accidents or suffered any other harm,” the Emperor said, referring to regions hit by heavy snowfall and severe cold this winter.

“Spring is approaching day by day,” he said. “I hope it will be a peaceful spring for each and every one of you.”

The Imperial couple also signed “thank you” to the crowd.

“This winter, it’s been snowing for longer than usual, which makes life difficult,” said a local government employee from Kamo, Niigata Prefecture. “I felt encouraged by the Emperor’s words, which were very understanding of the regions hit by heavy snow.”

The crowd totaled 26,973 people, including those who signed the guest book.

The Emperor and Empress attended a birthday luncheon at the palace in the afternoon, hosting about 130 guests, including members of the Imperial family and the heads of the government’s three branches.

Later, the Imperial couple visited the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo’s Motoakasaka area, where they met the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita.