Japan Emperor, Empress Visit Ishikawa Pref Attends National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities

From Jiji

October 15 2023

KANAZAWA – Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Sunday visited Ishikawa Prefecture to attend the opening ceremony of the National Cultural Festival and the National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities in Kanazawa, the prefecture’s capital.

It is the first time for the couple to visit the prefecture in central Japan together since 1998, when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Emperor said many traditional crafts and performing arts and rich garden culture have been nurtured in the prefecture and are now alive.

“I hope the festival will expand the scope of cultural and artistic activities and lead to the creation of new culture,” he said.

There was a stage featuring traditional performing arts from Ishikawa, and the Emperor and Empress interacted with the performers after the stage. The Emperor asked Nahoko Kurosaki, 61, a pianist who plays with only her left hand, “When did you start practicing?” The Empress said to Sokyu Nara, a 54-year-old tea ceremony master, who showed how to make tea, “Tea ceremony is a good thing, isn’t it?”