Emperor turns 66 and talks about Princess Aiko

Emperor Naruhito appeared on a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on February 23.

S/ Emperor Naruhito / I am truly grateful to have so many of you come here to celebrate my birthday like this.

The occasion was his 66th birthday.

Empress Masako, their daughter Princess Aiko and other members of the imperial family also attended the public greetings.

About 21,000 people came to offer their congratulations during the morning greeting session alone.

S/ Visitor / I saw him in person for the first time, and it was deeply moving and overwhelming.

S/ Visitor / I just hope he spends the year in good health and has a fulfilling year.

Officials said the emperor watched the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on TV along with his wife and daughter.

They also took turns holding the official Games mascots Tina and Milo and remarked on how cute they were.

Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the imperial couple undertook a tour for war remembrance.

They traveled to Okinawa and Nagasaki together with Aiko, who visited those locations for the first time.

They took time to meet with residents, crouching down to listen to their stories.

Princess Aiko has been working at the Japanese Red Cross Society for almost two full years.

The emperor said he is delighted by her continued growth.

S/ Emperor Naruhito / The stories I hear from Aiko are each fresh to me, someone who has never experienced working in general society. They feel like a journey into the unknown, and I find them very interesting.

Last November, Aiko visited Laos on her first official overseas trip.

The emperor said that while seeing her gain more experience day by day as an adult member of the imperial family, he hopes for her continued growth.

S/ I hope Aiko will continue to maintain a spirit of gratitude and compassion, gain even more experience to grow further, and cherish her role as she carries out her duties as a member of the imperial family.

At a press conference held ahead of his birthday, he also shared his thoughts on disasters.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquakes.

S/ Emperor Naruhito / The impact of a disaster varies from person to person, and I believe it carries a weight that cannot be measured simply by the passing of time such as 10 years or 15 years. Always praying that disasters will not occur, I want to share in the joys and hardships of the people, listen to the voices of those in affected areas, and remain close to the people.