News The empress’ last birthday

... Michiko-sama's last birthday as reigning empress, that is.

The Imperial Household Agency released a statement with some of her thoughts on her husband's forthcoming abdication. What I found most remarkable was a summary of all her activities in the past year. A most impressive schedule considering the imperial couple's age.

Find both the empress' statement as well as her annual schedule on the page below:

Press Conferences on the occasion of Her Majesty's Birthday (Written Answers) (2018) - The Imperial Household Agency


I'm not exactly sure what the red and blue pins indicate (photo credit: IHA)

More news:

Empress Michiko turns 84; wishes for peaceful era after succession - Japan Today

Happy birthday!

thomas said:

I'm not exactly sure what the red and blue pins indicate

Click to expand...

There are more than just two colors, but most are either red or blue.

Red pins mark the places they visited together in the Heisei era, i.e., as Emperor and Empress. Blue pins mark the places they visited together when the Emperor was Crown Prince. Other colors denote visits from just one of the two.

Thank you, @joadbres , I figured it must be somehow related to their past itineraries. Quite a lot of travelling!