Japan's Emperor Naruhito accompanied with Empress Masako wave well-wishers as he appears on the balcony of the Imperial Palace to mark the emperor's 63th birthday in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Tokyo. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTERS
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Thursday gave his first public birthday address since ascending the throne almost four years ago, after delays due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and urged support for people struggling with inflation and the pandemic.
"Many people are having difficulties in their daily life amid the pandemic and rising prices," Naruhito said, according to a transcript of a news conference released on his birthday, hours before he stood on a palace balcony to accept cheers and well-wishes from thousands of citizens assembled on the grounds below.
