Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Hosted Imperial Spring Garden Party

 

Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted an imperial spring garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 23, inviting guests known for their achievements in their respective fields. Also invited were government officials and members of the Diplomatic Missions. The imperial family served light meals in the garden for their guests.

Members of the imperial family who attended were The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Aiko, and Princess Kako, and other extended members. However, the Emperor emeritus and Empress emerita, who lived within the Akasaka estate, did not attend.

Emperor and Empress, Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Aiko, and Princess Kako

The Emperor and Empress

The event did not require attendees to wear face masks for the first time. The Emperor Empress and other Imperial Family members strolled around the garden for about two hours, meeting and chatting with the guests under the cloud skies. 

Princess Aiko

This is the second year in the Reiwa era (name of the reign period of Emperor Naruhito) that the reigning Emperor hosted a garden party. Garden parties were canceled for three years 2020-2022 due to the pandemic. In 2019, no garden parties were held to avoid clashing with the enthronement festivities of Emperor Naruhito.

Traditionally, imperial garden parties in Japan are held twice a year at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens, once each spring and autumn. About 2,000 guests from the academe, sports, and arts, and representatives from the government agencies are invited to attend the event.

Akasaka estate in Tokyo

The Akasaka Estate is a park-like Japanese Imperial Estate with several imperial residences, including those of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Crown Prince Fumihito's residences. It is situated in the district of Moto-Akasaka, Minato Special Ward, in Tokyo. The estate is not accessible to the general public.

Grounds of the Akasaka estate

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko lived in the Imperial Palace of Tokyo, the former location of the Edo castle of the Tokugawa Shogunate. 

Members of the imperial family greet guests of the spring garden party

The imperial family greets guests

Japan has the slimmest line of succession in the world due to its succession law where only male members are eligible to succeed and under the direct line of Emperor Hirohito. So far, only three male members are eligible to succeed Emperor Naruhito: His younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, the Crown Prince's only son - Prince Hisahito, and the 88-year-old Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who is childless.