Japan's emperor expresses concern about disaster survivors on his 66th birthday

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (3rd L), Empress Masako (centre) and their daughter Princess Aiko (3rd R), accmpanied by Crown Prince Akishino (2nd L), Crown Princess Kiko (L), and their second daughter Princess Kako (2nd R), and their eldest son Prince Hisahito (right), wave to visitors during a public audience celebrating the Emperor's 66th birthday, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, February 23, 2026. -- Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT

TOKYO (AP): Japanese Emperor Naruhito expressed concern about the scars that remain for survivors of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in comments released for his 66th birthday Monday just weeks before the March 11 anniversary .

"While recovery of infrastructure has made progress, I feel that reconstruction of livelihoods and community still needs to be addressed,” Naruhito said in the remarks made last week. "As I think of those who lost their loved ones and had to cope with complete change of their living environment, I feel their scars have not healed yet ... they stay despite the passage of time."