Emperor and Empress Visit Earthquake Survivors

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have arrived in Kumamoto to offer support and comfort to some of the people affected by the recent earthquake that struck parts of southern Japan. After arriving at Kumamoto Airport, the Imperial couple visited the villages of Minamiaso and Mashiko, just two of dozens of rural places in the area that were affected by the disaster.

It was just over a month ago when a large earthquake hit southern parts of Japan killing over 100 people and displacing a huge number of folk from their devastated homes. Mudslides and numerous aftershocks soon followed adding to the people’s plight.

At the Mashiki Chuo Elementary School, the Imperial couple met around 100 people still evacuated. Quietly, the Emperor and Empress knelt down and spoke to each and every person, offering supportive words of encouragement and enquiring after their health and well-being.

One person who spoke to the Emperor was a farmer called Mitsuo Fujiwara who later said of his Imperial visitor:

“He was really kind. I didn’t expect him to care about me like that”.

Filed under Japan
Tagged Emperor Akihito of Japan, Empress Michiko of Japan, Natural Disaster.

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