Overview

• The imperial couple visited Shiga Arena in Otsu on Monday morning to watch first-round boys junior and adult women's badminton matches from the royal box.
• They received courtside briefings from Japan Badminton Association representatives, including world champion and PR advisor Etsuko Tsuganoo.
• In the afternoon, they visited the Shiga Prefectural School for the Blind in Hikone and observed a class making envelopes from recycled braille newspapers.
• They also discussed guide-dog use and advocacy with members of the Biwako Harness Association during the school visit.
• The visit followed their attendance at the festival's opening ceremony in Hikone on Sunday, and they returned to Tokyo by Shinkansen in the evening.