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Empress Masako Turns 62, Calls for Preserving Peace After Year of Wartime Memorials

Her birthday message urges younger generations to learn from wartime history to protect peace.

Overview

  • In a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency, the Empress said she reflected deeply on the many precious lives lost and offered heartfelt condolences at each site she visited.
  • The imperial couple made memorial visits to Iwoto (Iwojima) in April, Okinawa and Hiroshima in June, and Nagasaki in September, with Princess Aiko joining the trips to Okinawa and Nagasaki.
  • She emphasized passing wartime memories to younger people through meetings with survivors, bereaved families, and youth engaged in storytelling activities.
  • During a July state visit to Mongolia, the Emperor and Empress attended the Naadam opening, joined a state banquet, and laid flowers at a memorial for Japanese who died in Soviet custody.
  • Her doctors reported that treatment for her long-standing adjustment disorder continues and that her condition can fluctuate, with fatigue possible after major events.