InsideJapan News Network

Nearly 2,000 people from all walks of life turned up for a special garden party hosted by Japan's top royals yesterday (April 16th).

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were present at the event which took place at Akasaka Estate in Tokyo, reports the Associated Press.

Among the guests at the event were scientists, performers and top athletes, in addition to Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Masukawa, last year's recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

The emperor is quoted as telling Osaka governor Toru Hashimoto: "Osaka faces a severe economic situation and you must see many difficulties as a governor."

Recently, the emperor and empress celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

According to AFP, the empress was the first commoner in modern times to marry into the country's imperial family.

She said that "it feels like a dream to celebrate the golden wedding day by his majesty's side".

Written by Mike Cotgreave


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