New Year's Greetings

・Their Majesties' New Year Reception
At the Imperial Palace each year on January 1, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year greetings from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Imperial Family; the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice-Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial organs; prefectural governors and chairpersons of prefectural assemblies; and heads of diplomatic missions to Japan and their spouses. This ceremony is considered a state event.

・Visit of the General Public to the Palace for the New Year Greeting
At the Imperial Palace each year on January 2, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year Greetings from the people.Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress appear with other members of the Imperial Family on the Imperial Palace veranda several times. On this occasion, His Majesty the Emperor addresses the people.