An Imperial Week in Photos: Emperor and Empress in Mongolia for Historic Visit
On July 7, His Majesty visited the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, which presents the history of Mongolia from ancient times to the present. Reflecting on the visit, he remarked, "It was very insightful to learn about the systems of governance, the role of horses, and methods of securing water, among other topics." Emperor Naruhito views exhibits at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum — Morning of July 7, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (©Sankei by Kazuya Kamogawa)
He later visited the Ulaanbaatar Water Supply and Sewerage Authority and the Gachuurt Water Source Project, which supplies water to the capital. Emperor Naruhito arrives at the Gachuurt water reservoir facility — Afternoon of July 7, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
On July 8, Their Majesties offered flowers at a memorial honoring Japanese citizens who were detained and died in Mongolia following World War II. After a moment of silence, the heavy rain that had been falling since morning stopped. The Emperor and Empress closed their umbrellas, approached the memorial once more, and quietly observed a second moment of silence.
Their Majesties spoke with Ms Fusae Suzuki, 88, whose father died while being detained in Mongolia by the Soviet Union in the years immediately following the war.
Emperor Naruhito gently said, "It is truly heartbreaking what happened to your father." When Ms Suzuki expressed her determination to pass down the memory of this tragedy to future generations, Their Majesties encouraged her, saying, "Please take care of yourself, and thank you for your efforts." Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako speak with bereaved family members after offering flowers at the memorial for Japanese war dead — Afternoon of July 8, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Later that day, Their Majesties attended a series of official events as state guests, including a welcome ceremony at Sukhbaatar Square in central Ulaanbaatar. This included a meeting with President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and First Lady Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg at the Government Palace, and a state banquet hosted in their honor.
At the welcome ceremony, they also had a friendly exchange with former sumo grand champions Asashoryu, Hakuho, and Harumafuji, all originally from Mongolia. Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako wave alongside President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and First Lady Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg in front of the statue of Chinggis Khaan at Sukhbaatar Square — Morning of July 8, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako speak with three former yokozuna from Mongolia during the welcome ceremony — Morning of July 8, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
At the state banquet, His Majesty remarked, "I hope that the seeds of cooperation sown across this vast land, passed down from our predecessors, will blossom into many flowers." He also performed with Mongolia's Morin Khuur Symphony Orchestra, playing pieces including Hamabe no Uta ("Song of the Seashore") on the viola. His Majesty Emperor Naruhito performs on the viola during the state banquet — Afternoon of July 8, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
On July 9, the Emperor visited the Mongol Kosen Technical College, which was established based on Japan's system of technical colleges. In the afternoon, together with the Empress, he visited Ulaanbaatar's School No 149, where they interacted with students. They later toured the Mongolia–Japan Hospital and expressed appreciation to doctors who had studied in Japan. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visit Ulaanbaatar's School No 149 and view the ICT classroom — Afternoon of July 9, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
On July 10, Emperor Naruhito observed a Japanese language class at the Shine Mongolia School, an integrated educational institution that incorporates elements of Japanese-style education. Praising the students, he said, "I am truly pleased to see you pursuing your studies with such strong aspirations."
He then visited Gandantegchinlen Monastery, a major center of Mongolian Buddhism, where he attentively viewed statues of Kannon and other Buddhist figures.
On July 8, Crown Prince Fumihito visited the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Tokyo's Koto Ward to attend the 27th Japan Water Prize award ceremony. As honorary president of the Japan Water Prize Committee, he spoke with high school students who received the top award for their efforts to preserve aging agricultural irrigation systems, telling them, "It is a very encouraging achievement for those who rely on this water." Crown Prince Fumihito presents an award certificate to a recipient at the 27th Japan Water Prize ceremony — Afternoon of July 8, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Koto Ward, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa) Crown Prince Fumihito speaks with recipients of the 27th Japan Water Prize — Afternoon of July 8, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Koto Ward, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa)
On July 6, Princess Hisako attended the finals of the Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Junior High School English Oratorical Contest, held in Tokyo. The next day, she visited Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, touring pavilions from countries including Finland and Poland.
On July 8, she attended the National Day celebration for Qatar. The next day, she participated in the Healthy Heart Symposium in Tokyo, where she stated, "There is an increasing need to promote awareness and prevention of heart disease across all generations." Princess Hisako serves as honorary president of both the Japan AED Foundation and the Japan Heart Foundation, co-organizers of the symposium. On July 10, she celebrated her 72nd birthday.
( Read the article in Japanese . )
Author: Masashi Nakamura and Tomomi Yoshizawa, The Sankei Shimbun
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
20 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The 700-year-old Prague cathedral will get a new voice as an organ is nearly installed
PRAGUE (AP) — The installation of a new organ at Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral is nearing completion, giving the 700-year-old biggest temple in the Czech Republic a proper instrument to accompany religious services and concerts. An international team was working on a three-story scaffolding above the main entrance inside the cathedral on Tuesday to put in place some of the remaining pipes. The work is scheduled to be complete in late August, followed by the voicing and tuning of the pipes through the end of the year. The public could hear the organ's first sounds on June 15 next year, the feast of St. Vitus, officials said. The organ contains some 6,000 pipes, ranging in length 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) to 7 meters (23 feet). The four-manual instrument was build in a workshop of Gerhard Grenzing in El Papiol near Barcelona in Spain. The renowned German organ builder has constructed almost 140 organs and reconstructed more than 90 historical instruments in many countries. Once completed in Spain, the new organ was disassembled and its parts were gradually transported to Prague on trucks. The cathedral is linked to the Czech statehood. It's a place where the Czech kings were coronated and buried while the Czech crown jewels are stored inside. The funeral Mass for Vaclav Havel, the Czech Republic's first president, was celebrated in the cathedral on Dec 23, 2011. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. The previous organ was completed in the early 1930s, but turned out to be too small for its monumental space and frequently broke down. There was no interest in fixing the organ during World War II and more than 40 years of the communist rule. Effort to build a new organ started in 2017, with a crowdfunding campaign that collected more than 109 million Czech koruna, or crowns, ($5.2 million), about 98% of the sum needed.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
WWII veteran's grave found empty after daughter hoped to relocate burial site
Elizabeth Patrick has more questions than answers after learning her father's grave was empty. Patrick is from England, and was estranged from her father. After years of searching for him she learned he was buried at Green Acres Cemetery just outside of Winnipeg. She wanted to have him relocated to Woodland Cemetery in Ontario, but when the grave was excavated, she got some terrible news. "I got a phone call from the funeral director at Green Acres on the 21st of May," said Patrick. "He said 'I'm sorry to tell you this, and I don't know how to tell you, but your father's not in the grave.'" Patrick's father, Gordon Patrick, was a glider pilot in World War II. He spent his final years in Winnipeg, and died in 1973, but he had no family in Canada, so he was buried without a headstone. Elizabeth Patrick's late son Patrick Moulden also served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and he was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery's Field of Honour in Ontario. Patrick's plan was to move her father's grave next to her son. "I don't want him to be alone, and because my dad was a sergeant glider pilot in World War II … he is eligible for a Last Post headstone, and all the rights of being buried in a military field of honour," explained Patrick. Leading up to the discovery of the empty grave, Patrick was working with Last Post — a veteran-focused charity that makes sure all veterans are given a dignified funeral, burial, and a military gravestone, despite any financial challenges at the time of their death. Patrick planned to have a military headstone for her dad once he was relocated, but the empty grave changes that. "He won't be allowed to have a Last Post headstone because … in order to have a Last Post headstone, you have to have remains," said Patrick. "He's entitled to that. But without remains he's not." Green Acres Cemetery, where Patrick's father was said to be buried, was founded in the 1950s, and the original owners have since passed away. Ownership of the cemetery changed hands a couple of times in the 1990s before it was bought by Service Corporation International in the 2000s. "At the time of the original burial in the early 1970s, Service Corporation International did not own the property," said SCI in an emailed statement. "Given the age of the burial, the historical records that have been passed down to us may be incomplete or inaccurate." Considered a missing person SCI said the cemetery is exploring other areas near the empty grave to try to locate the remains. Because Green Acres can't find the body, it's considered a missing person, and the RCMP is involved. "The RCMP Forensic Identification Section has attended to examine the site many times," said RCMP in a statement "The Oakbank RCMP is working closely with the cemetery and the family." Patrick said communication with SCI and Green Acres was cordial at first, but she noticed they started including their lawyer in the email correspondence. Now she's secured a lawyer as well, and she hasn't heard from Green Acres or SCI since June 9. She said Last Post is still working with her to get a memorial for her father put up next to her son's grave, but she doesn't think she'll find her father's remains. "At this point what are they going to do? Look all over the graveyard for his remains? I don't think so." Patrick believes SCI and Green Acres should do a full inventory of its death records, so no one else finds an empty grave where a loved one should be. Daughter finds WWII veteran's grave empty 3 minutes ago A British woman wanted to relocate her estranged father's grave from a cemetery near Winnipeg to a military site in Ontario, but was shocked to learn the grave her father was supposed to be in was empty.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Nova Scotia gardeners, homeowners endure Japanese beetle infestations
There's something bugging homeowners and gardeners across Nova Scotia this month, and it's not ticks. The Japanese beetle population has grown in recent years – decimating flowers and foliage all over Canada. Joanne Fancy says the pests have surrounded her Halifax-area property and are preying on her willow, maple and birch trees, as well as bordering vegetation. She's spent some $1,200 trying to get rid of them, including the use of professional extermination services. 'I'm not going to say kill, but they destroy the look of the landscaping. It's disheartening,' she said of the invasive beetles. View image in full screen A pair of Japanese beetles skeletonize a raspberry leaf, with many other leaves already damaged. Sharon Pfeifer / Global News Fancy isn't alone. Experts have been swarmed with questions from concerned landowners across the province. Story continues below advertisement 'This time of year, my phone is ringing off the hook. Every year it seems to be worse and worse,' said Paul Manning, an environmental sciences professor at Dalhousie University. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Many people have turned to Japanese Beetle traps. But local gardening expert, Niki Jabbour, says they have to be used properly or they could just add to the pest problems. 'Anybody who's got a trap in their yard will tell you it's full of Japanese beetles. But only about, you know, 75 per cent of the beetles will go in it,' she said. 'So you'll be attracting more beetles to your yard, but not trapping all of them.' 1:55 Vancouver takes on destructive Japanese Beetle If you do plan on using a trap, she recommends placing it as far away from your garden as possible. Story continues below advertisement 'The problem with these buckets or traps is that beetles are relatively clumsy fliers. So they can be attracted from a long way in, based on the smell,' added Manning. 'They can fly in, hit the bucket and then bounce out and end up feeding on something totally different.' Manning and Jabbour both say there's no need to shell out on expensive solutions. 'Something that doesn't involve buying anything that does help impact the overall population, is handpicking. So put on a pair of garden gloves, take a bucket of soapy water, you can add a little dash of vegetable oil to it as well,' said Jabbour. 'Grab (the bugs) with your gloved hand and throw them into the bucket of soapy water.' Manning adds it's a 'pretty humane way of killing them.' 'If you can do that once a day at around 5 to 7 (p.m.), that's something you can do to give your tree a fighting chance,' he said. — with a file from Rebecca Lau
