Japan's Emperor Naruhito delivering his first New Year's address beside Empress Masako during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan 2, 2020. - AFP
TOKYO (AFP): Japan's new Emperor Naruhito said Thursday (Jan 2) he hoped for a year without natural disasters, delivering his first New Year speech since ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne to tens of thousands of well-wishers.
"I'm glad to celebrate the New Year together with you," Naruhito told the crowd, many waving Japanese flags and shouting Banzai, meaning "long life".
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
