NHK World-Japan Features Empress Michiko Playing the Piano in 2018

Emperor Akihito Consoles His People in Television Address

Emperor Akihito of Japan comforted his people in a rare televised address on Wednesday. In his speech, he told the country not to "abandon hope" despite the devastation caused by last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami. The emperor also expressed his sorrow and conveyed sympathy for the deaths and damages caused by the catastrophic event.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are awaiting confirmation from officials to go visit the affected areas.

Emperor Akihito's Message of Peace

Today, Emperor Akihito and Emperor Michiko of Japan attended a memorial service at Nippon Budokan Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo in remembrance of August 15, 1945 when Emperor Hirohito announced on a radio broadcast the surrender of Japan to Allied forces after atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The formal surrender took place on the U.S.S. Missouri, September 2, 1945.

The emperor expressed his thoughts of that fateful day by saying: "Together with all the Japanese people, I pay a heartfelt tribute to those who lost their lives on the battlefield and fell in the ravages of war, and pray for world peace and further development of our country."