Emperor’s birthday event canceled due to coronavirus outbreak in Japan

TOKYO, Feb 17, 2020, Kyodo. The Imperial Household Agency said Monday it has canceled a birthday event for Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace scheduled on the weekend due to concern that the public event could contribute to the spread of the new coronavirus, Kyodo News reported.

The birthday address on Sunday would have been the first by the emperor, who will turn 60, since his accession to the throne on May 1 last year. His father, former Emperor Akihito, became the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in over 200 years when he stepped down on April 30.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were originally scheduled to greet the public three times on Sunday morning from a balcony in the palace’s Chowa-Den wing, together with Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko and their daughters Princess Mako and Princess Kako.

“We made the decision to cancel the public event at the palace, which is attended every year by many people in close proximity, after considering the risk of the virus spreading,” Kenji Ikeda, vice grand steward of the agency, told a press conference Monday.

The signing of the visitors’ register in the afternoon has also been canceled. It is unusual for public events at the palace to be shelved due to public health concerns.

The emperor’s birthday address was last canceled in 1996 according to the wishes of then Emperor Akihito due to the hostage crisis at the Japanese Embassy in Peru.

Around 82,000 well-wishers visited the palace for Emperor Akihito’s final birthday address from the throne in December 2018.