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☆ Mount Fuji: Japanese town putting up eight-foot barrier to block tourist photos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A picturesque Japanese town is putting up a giant mesh barrier to block a popular selfie spot near Mount Fuji. Fujikawaguchiko, at the foot of the Yoshida Trail to Mount Fuji, has become overrun with foreign tourists trying to get the perfect photo of Japan’s most famous mountain. And now the town has had enough and is putting up the mesh barrier to block the view, a local official told CNN. The town of Fujikawaguchiko is in Yamanashi prefecture, to the north of Fuji and about 62 miles (100 kilometers) west of Tokyo. Many of them head straight to Mount Fuji, an icon of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site, leaving garbage and causing erosion along the way.

Persons: Philip Fong, “ Overtourism, Masatake Izumi, – Organizations: CNN, Mount, Getty, UNESCO, CNN Travel, Disney Locations: Mount Fuji, Fujikawaguchiko, AFP, Yamanashi prefecture, Fuji, Tokyo, Japan, Yamanashi, Austrian, Halstatt

☆ ChatGPT’s boss claims nuclear fusion is the answer to AI’s soaring energy needs. Experts say not so fast
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Yet according to Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, there is a clear solution to this tricky dilemma: nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion — the process that powers the sun and other stars — is likely still decades away from being mastered and commercialized on Earth. A section of JT-60SA, a huge experimental nuclear fusion reactor at Naka Fusion Institute in Naka city of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on January 22, 2024. The sector was responsible for around 2% of global electricity demand in 2022, according to the IEA. But, he cautioned, this doesn’t necessarily mean AI’s electricity demand will fall.

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Altman, “, Lex Fridman, ” Altman, —, Alex de Vries, ”, Aneeqa Khan, ” Khan, Philip Fong, Vries, ” de Vries, Michael Khoo, “ We’re, Khoo, Yiannis Kourtoglou, Sen, Ed Markey, ” Markey, ” Khoo Organizations: CNN, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Manchester, “, JT, Naka Fusion, Getty, International Energy Agency, Boston Consulting, Reuters, Microsoft, OpenAI, Boston Consulting Group, Google, Princeton, ” Locations: “, Naka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, AFP, Pascal, Nicosia, Cyprus

☆ Chip giant TSMC opens first Japan factory as it diversifies away from Taiwan amid U.S.-China tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A general view shows the new semiconductor plant by Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (JASM), a subsidiary of Taiwan's chip giant TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), in Kikuyo of the Kikuchi district, Kumamoto prefecture on February 14, 2024. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company opened its first chip plant in Japan on Saturday as it diversifies supply chains away from Taiwan amid intensifying U.S.-China trade tensions. Paul You, chairman of First Securities Investment Corporation said last month that the global semiconductor industry including Taiwan's could be at risk from the U.S.-China chip war. Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc., the manufacturing company majority-owned by TSMC, began construction of the plant in April 2022. Japan has been striving to strengthen its semiconductor presence amid an intense rivalry with key chip making countries such as Taiwan and South Korea.

Persons: Philip FONG, PHILIP FONG, Paul You, TSMC, JASM Organizations: Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, AFP, Getty Images, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Nvidia, Apple, U.S, First Securities Investment Corporation, U.S ., Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc, TSMC, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Denso Corporation, Samsung, Center, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Japan, Kikuyo, Kikuchi, Kumamoto prefecture, AFP, Taiwan, China, Europe, U.S, Kumamoto, South Korea

☆ Messi’s ‘miracle’ return stirs Chinese anger and conspiracy theories
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“(He) played in five of the six preseason games and only missed the game in Hong Kong, China! Don’t come to China, China doesn’t welcome you,” another user wrote in a post liked by 20,000 others. “Why didn’t Messi play in Hong Kong or participate in the handshake with HK (the Hong Kong) chief executive? Messi's no-show sparks an outcry in Hong Kong on February 4, 2024. One social media user noted that it was not only Messi who played in Tokyo, but not Hong Kong.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi didn’t, Messi, “ Messi, Hong Kong, Kenneth Fok, Hu Xijin, didn’t Messi, ” Hu, ”, Louise Delmotte, “ Don’t, Hong, David Beckham, Beckham, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Luis Suárez couldn’t, Philip Fong, “, nimbly, Regina Ip, ” “ Messi, Kenneth Chan, Taylor Swift, ’ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Vissel, Hong, CNN, Weibo, HK, Global Times, Inter, National Basketball Association, Houston Rockets, Soccer, Ardent, Messi, Argentina national, Australia, Inter Miami's, Getty, The Inter Miami, Hong Kong Baptist University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Argentine, Japan, Vissel Kobe, Tokyo, Beijing, State, China’s Sichuan, Argentina, AFP, Asia

CNN —Inter Miami star Lionel Messi returned to action on Wednesday in a match against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, though Chinese fans remain upset that the star did not play in Sunday’s game in Hong Kong. “Hello to all my fans in mainland China and Hong Kong! Philip Fong/AFP/Getty ImagesDuring Wednesday’s game against Vissel Kobe, Messi was brought on for David Ruiz as a second-half substitute. Fans in Hong Kong booed and called for ticket refunds due to Messi’s non-appearance in Sunday’s game, and even the Hong Kong government shared its dismay that the forward had not taken to the field. Luis Suárez, Messi former teammate at Barcelona, was also sidelined with an injury in Hong Kong but played 75 minutes for Miami against Vissel Kobe.

Persons: Lionel Messi, “, ” Messi, Messi, Vissel Kobe, Philip Fong, David Ruiz, Luis Suárez Organizations: CNN — Inter Miami, Vissel, Weibo, Messi, Vissel Kobe, Miami, Hong, Barcelona Locations: Vissel Kobe, Tokyo, Hong Kong, China, Sichuan, Weibo, AFP, Japan

☆ Foreign-born residents in Japan sue the government for alleged racial profiling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Saki Toi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tokyo CNN —Three foreign-born residents in Japan are suing the country’s government over alleged racial profiling, highlighting an ongoing debate about Japanese identity and nationality. The three plaintiffs, all residents of Tokyo, filed the lawsuit in the Tokyo National Court and held a news conference with their lawyers on Monday, according to public broadcaster NHK. One plaintiff came to Japan from India after marrying his wife, and has lived there for more than 20 years, NHK reported. Since then, he has been repeatedly stopped and questioned by police officers on the street, sometimes twice a day. The third plaintiff is an American-born man who said he hoped to raise awareness of the issue among the Japanese population, according to Reuters.

Persons: “, ”, Philip Fong, Nissin, Naomi Osaka –, Karolina Shiino Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Tokyo National Court, NHK, Aichi, Reuters, Court, Getty, CNN, Pew Locations: Japan, Tokyo, India, Pakistani, American, AFP, Aichi, Nagoya

☆ Japan's Nikkei blows past 34,000 mark for the first time in over 30 years; CSI 300 near 5-year lows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji are seen from the I-link Town observatory in Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo on July 2, 2023. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets mostly fell Wednesday, with China's CSI 300 closing at near 5-year lows, though Japan defied the trend to extend its 33-year high. Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 2.01% to cross the 34,000 mark for the first time since March 1990, closing at 34,441.72. The broader based Topix also gained, climbing 1.3% to end at 2,444.48 and also hitting levels not seen in more than 30 years. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.49%, while the mainland China's CSI 300 lost 0.47% to finish at 3,277.13, hitting its lowest level since Jan. 31, 2019.

Persons: Philip Fong, Topix, Kospi Organizations: Mount, Afp, Getty, CSI, Nikkei, — Locations: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Nintendo is expected to launch the 'Switch 2' console this year. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Splatoon 3 proved to be a hit in Japan, helping keep momentum for Nintendo's ageing Switch console. Nintendo has sold 132.46 million units of the Switch, making it the company's second-most successful console after the handheld Nintendo DS. If the Switch remained popular in the holiday quarter then Nintendo could push a new console out to the Fall of this year, Goyal said. If Switch sales dropped in the December quarter, the new device could come as early as Spring or Summer, he added. Kantan Games' Toto said he expects the successor to be a "new device and not just an upgrade."

Persons: Philip Fong, Mario, Zelda, Serkan Toto, Piers Harding, Atul Goyal, Goyal, I'm, Nintendo's, Harding, Rolls, Toto, Moffett Nathanson, Will Organizations: Nintendo, AFP, Getty, CNBC, Kantan Games, Ampere, Jefferies, Mario Bros, Moffett Locations: Japan, Tokyo

☆ Asian Games: South Korea's Esports stars target medal success -- and a military exemption
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

For South Korean male participants, winning a gold medal in the Asian Games or Olympic Games not only brings honor but also grants them a military exemption. However, the mandatory duty can be waived for some athletes, in particular those who win an Olympic medal or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Seven games will be featured as official medal events at the 19th Asian Games, building on the success of the pilot event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The venue for the Asian Games esports competitions is state-of-the-art and an impressive sight to see. With its inclusion as an official Asian Games medal event, the possibility of esports becoming a part of the Olympic Games is a topic of growing debate.

Persons: Suga, Oh, Wang Zhao, Son Heung, ” Shin, ”, esports, ” Kim Sa, “, ” Lee Kyung, Kwak, hyouk, it’d, ” Kwak, Thailand’s Teedech, Lee Sang, –, Michael Chow, Yoonjung Seo, Michael Jordan, ” Chow, Faker, JUNG YEON, Philip Fong, Rowan Crothers, “ I’m, I’ll, ” Crothers, Jess Bolden, Chow, Niko, Young Organizations: CNN, Gaming, Hangzhou Asian Games, Asian Games, Games, BTS, Asian, Getty, Premier League soccer, Tottenham Hotspur, Marine Corps, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, “ Times, CNN Sport, FIFA, Hangzhou, South Korea, Believer Company, Riot, South, Team Korea, League, “ League, SK Telecom, Riot Games, Microsoft Studios, Xbox, Studios, International Federation of, Phonographic Industry, EA Sports FC Online, PUBG, of Valor, of, Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Maekyung Media, Paralympic, IOC, Kodikara, International Federations, Niko Partners Locations: South Korea, Hangzhou, AFP, Seogwipo, Jeju, Republic of, Seoul, esports, Jakarta, South, . South Korea, Palembang, Asia

Each of the parents has forked out 14,000 yen ($96) to attend this event, hosted by the matchmaking agency Association of Parents of Marriage Proposal Information. It’s not that Japan, a notoriously work-obsessed nation where time is at a premium, hasn’t tried out the more direct approach to speed-dating, where the youngsters do it for themselves. Japan remains a highly patriarchal society in which married women are often expected to take the caregiver role, despite government efforts to get husbands more involved. But however great the yearning for grandchildren, Miyagoshi says she always emphasizes to parents that their children should come first. No matter how much parents want grandchildren, the children must be willing to have children,” she said.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, “, It’s, hasn’t, ”, Noriko Miyagoshi, Junko Fukutome, Fumio Kishida, James Raymo, ” Raymo, Shigeki Matsuda, Philip Fong, Matsuda, it’s, ” Matsuda, Raymo, Miyagoshi, Tomohiro Ohsumi, don’t, Richard A, Brooks, hadn’t Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Sakai Chamber, Commerce, of Parents, Association of Parents, CNN, East Asian Studies, Princeton University, Chukyo University, National Institute of Population, Social Security, Young, Organisation for Economic Co, Getty Locations: Osaka, Japan, Aichi, Roppongi, Tokyo, AFP, France, Germany, Yonomori, Fukushima, Hie

☆ China is furious with Japan's plan to release treated Fukushima water into the ocean
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which is situated on Japan's east coast, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of the capital Tokyo. Japan's government has repeatedly said the discharge of the treated water is safe and the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog has endorsed the move. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) speaks during a meeting with representatives of the Inter-Ministerial Council for Contaminated Water, Treated Water and Decommissioning Issues and the Inter-Ministerial Council Concerning the Continuous Implementation of the Basic Policy on Handling of ALPS Treated Water, at Prime Minister's Office, on August 22, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan. Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee, meanwhile, "strongly opposes" the discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima power plant. Hundreds of activists in South Korea had gathered in the capital of Seoul earlier this month to rally against Japan's plan to dispose of the treated water into the ocean.

Persons: Philip Fong, Fumio Kishida, Rodrigo Reyes Marin, Wang Wenbin, Wang, John Lee, Chung Sung Organizations: Afp, Getty, Japan, International Atomic Energy Agency, Inter, Ministerial Council, Minister's, Zuma, Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry, Japan's Embassy, CNBC, Hong, Japanese Locations: Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Japan's, Tokyo, Japanese, China, London, Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, Korea, Fukushima

☆ Japan to release Fukushima water into ocean starting this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Fisherman Haruo Ono stands on one of his fishing boats at Tsurushihama Fishing Port, Shinchi-machi of Fukushima Prefecture, some 60 kms north of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on August 21, 2023, ahead of a government's plan to begin releasing treated water from the plant into the Pacific Ocean. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesJapan said on Tuesday it will start releasing more than 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24, putting into motion a plan that has drawn strong criticism from China. Japan has said that the water release is safe. Still, some neighboring countries have expressed skepticism over the safety of the plan, with Beijing emerging as the biggest critic. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in July that Japan had shown selfishness and arrogance, and had not fully consulted the international community about the water release.

Persons: Ono, Philip Fong, Fumio Kishida, Wang Wenbin Organizations: Afp, Getty, Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Nuclear, Authority, International Atomic Energy Agency Locations: Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, China, Japan, Beijing

Public prosecutors in Japan have not released information regarding the case and did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. Rina Gonoi, a former member of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, checks old photos on her phone. “That makes it hard for people to speak out.”Rina Gonoi says she endured physical and verbal sexual abuse while she served in Japan's Self-Defense Forces. In 1992, Japan’s National Defense Academy finally began accepting women, which made it possible for them to become senior officers. “We are aware that the perpetrators of sexual harassment cases are scheduled to be punished severely.

Persons: Tokyo CNN — Rina Gonoi, Gonoi, “, ”, Rina Gonoi Gonoi’s, Staff Yoshihide Yoshida, dishonorably, Rina Gonoi, Philip Fong, Japan’s, Fumika Sato, ” Sato, Sato, ” Rina Gonoi, Rina, Shinzo Abe, Richard A, Brooks, –, ” Gonoi, Gonoi’s, I’d, Yasukazu Hamada, Fumio Kishida, hasn’t, you’ve, “ I’m Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Defense Force, Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Staff, Defense Forces, NHK, Public, Getty, Hitotsubashi University, Defense Ministry, CNN, National Press Club, Japan’s National Defense Academy, Defense, Japan’s, Self - Defense Force, Ministry of Defense, ”, “, SDF Locations: Japan’s, Japan, AFP, Japan's, North Korea, China, Tokyo, Higashi, Miyagi, Fukushima

☆ CNBC Daily Open: A new dawn for Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this article 9983.T-JPBRK.ABRK.B Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA general view shows the skyline of Tokyo as pictured from the I-link Town observatory in Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo on July 2, 2023. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? What you need to know todayThe bottom line

Persons: Philip Fong Organizations: Afp, Getty, CNBC Locations: Tokyo, Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The sun rises on Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. What you need to know todayU.S. markets on holidayU.S. markets were closed yesterday for the Fourth of July holiday, while futures were little changed on Tuesday night. Inflation exceptionalismThe U.K. is the only G7 country where inflation is still rising, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The sky's the limitAround 30% of the flights operated by U.S. airlines were delayed between June 24 through July 2.

Persons: Philip Fong, Abu Dhabi's, Xi Jinping, aren't, Niño, El Niño Organizations: Tokyo, Mount, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, U.S, aren't fazed, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Mount Fuji, Ichikawa city, Chiba prefecture, Tokyo, China, Beijing, U.S

☆ China is using AI to raise the dead, and give people one last chance to say goodbye
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

I would have liked to watch a few more episodes," the grandfather bot replied. Yu told Tang his grandmother needed the chatbot to process her emotions and mourn. As for himself, he declined to share his intimate conversations with his grandfather bot. Like Yu's grandfather bot, Wu's bot produced limited responses. "These emotions might have overwhelmed me too much to work and live my life," he told Tang.

☆ As G-7 Summit kicks off in Hiroshima, China and Russia are on everyone’s minds
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A man rides his bicycle past a "G7 Hiroshima" flower sign at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit, on May 17, 2023. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) Philip Fong | Afp | Getty ImagesThe annual Group of 7 summit officially kicks off on Friday in Hiroshima, Japan. A sign of G7 Hiroshima Summit is pictured in Hiroshima, ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit, on May 16, 2023. G-7 finance leaders and central bankers finalized a three-day meeting in Niigata last week. "The U.S. will have a package of sanctions associated with the G-7 statement that will center on this enforcement issue," he told reporters.

☆ 'Foreign investors are back': Japan stocks surge to their highest since 1990
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The firm noted that foreign investors bought a net 2.1 trillion yen ($15.4 billion) worth of Japanese stocks in April – adding that Japan's corporate sector remains the largest net buyer of Japanese stocks, with a volume of 1.1 trillion yen year-to-date. Central bank focusSociete Generale strategists added that their overweight position on Japanese equities remains unchanged. The Japanese yen traded at slightly weaker levels to 136.43 against the greenback on Wednesday. "Keep an overweight position on Japan equities, unhedged, and biased to banks, financials, and value," they wrote. "Specifically, we note the solid fundamentals compared with stocks on overseas markets, and we also think that expectations for structural changes/reforms could push Japanese equities up even further," wrote Japan equity strategist Kazunori Tatebe.

☆ 6 Ways to Kick the Bucket List and Rethink Your Trips
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Sebastian Modak | Photographs F. Martin Ramin The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tom Marchant, co-founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato, said expressing what you want from travel helps trip advisers plan accordingly. “We can categorize the experiences we offer by how they make you feel and what you want from a trip, instead of just the destination,” he said. “We can try and create the conditions for those emotions that [we hope] you later associate with the best travel memories.”Philip Fong/AFP/Getty

☆ Airfares across Asia are sky-high this year. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But passengers in Asia Pacific are currently grappling with bigger price jumps than other regions, highlighting the uneven global recovery. Economy fares to Asia from North America and Europe are set to rise 9.5% and 9.8% this year from last year, respectively, Amex GBT forecasts show. “In the markets where restrictions have been the last to lift, and hence [flight] capacity last to be restarted, the difference in fares is the highest,” said Aitken. Despite China’s reopening, outbound flight capacity “is currently only at 15% to 20% of pre-Covid levels,” according to Trip.com (TCOM) CEO Jane Sun. The restrictions have remained, and those most heavily impacted are between Asia and North America or Europe.

☆ Bank of Japan could announce major policy shift this week as bond yields top limit again
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This picture taken on October 27, 2022 shows pedestrians walking in front of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) headquarters in Tokyo. The move would come less than a month after the Bank of Japan caught markets off guard by widening its tolerance range for 10-year Japanese government bond yields. Indeed, Nikkei reported Monday that the Bank of Japan purchased JGBs worth more than 2 trillion yen ($15.6 billion) after the nation's 10-year bond yield curve topped 0.5% for two consecutive sessions. While the central bank leaving interest rates unchanged would be positive for Japanese stocks, BofA said a removal of its yield curve control policy could lead to sharp declines. HSBC, meanwhile, expects the central bank to announce further widening of the yield curve control tolerance band instead of abolishing the policy altogether.

☆ Japan's emperor gives first public New Year's greeting since 2020
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, former Japanese emperor Akihito and former empress Michiko appear before well-wishers during the traditional New Year's greeting ceremony by Japan's royal family at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2, 2023. PHILIP FONG/Pool via REUTERSTOKYO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Emperor Naruhito on Monday gave a New Year's address and greeted members of the public for the first time in three years as the country eases COVID-19 pandemic restrictions amid a year-end surge in infections. Naruhito, 62, was joined by other royals, including his wife, Empress Masako, 59, and his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 89, who abdicated in 2019. About 9,600 people, split into six groups over the course of the day, were chosen by lottery to attend the New Year's event, a much smaller number than the tens of thousands that usually gather for the traditional royal greeting. Since the start of the pandemic, the country has registered about 30 million infections and almost 60,000 deaths.

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