Japanese Emperor Naruhito, in a poem recited at the annual Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading on Friday, reflected fondly on the warm welcome he and his wife Empress Masako have always received during official visits across Japan.Having visited all 47 of Japan's prefectures, including when he was crown prince, the poem describes the emperor's feeling of peace upon seeing the smiles of local people at each place he traveled to, according to the Imperial Household Agency.The emperor acceded to the throne after his father, former Emperor Akihito, abdicated on April 30, 2019.The ceremony at the…READ FULL ARTICLE
