2 June
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have attended an annual tree-planting ceremony in central Japan.
About 10,000 people from across Japan also took part in this year's event at the Aichi Prefecture Forest Park on Sunday. The Emperor gave a speech in which he expressed hope that the use of timber and efforts to grow healthy forests will spread further from Aichi to all over Japan and to the future.
The Emperor said sound forests are common assets of the people of Japan that offer a wide variety of benefits. He said such forests not only supply wood and other forestry products but also nurture land and sea that bring clear water and rich harvest, as well as playing an important role in curbing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
The Emperor and Empress then planted saplings. In the ceremony, high school and university students staged a dance performance as a prayer for flourishing forests. The Imperial couple smiled and applauded.—NHK
