http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=417118
*Emperor committed to standing by socially vulnerable *
*TOKYO*, Jan. 4 KYODO
Ever since ascending to the throne 20 years ago following the death of
his father *Emperor Hirohito*, *Emperor Akihito* has been committed to
standing by disaster victims, handicapped people, the elderly and war
victims harmed by the former Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.
On Jan. 31, 1995, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a
gymnasium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, where survivors of the Great
Hanshin Earthquake were taking shelter.
About two weeks after the disaster, which resulted in the loss of more
than 6,400 lives, the emperor, dressed in a sweater and windbreaker, told
the devastated evacuees, ''Please do not give up hope and hang in there,''
while kneeling the cold floor of the gym and holding the hands of each
survivor, together with Empress Michiko.
There was criticism of the imperial couple for kneeling down before the
public.
But the emperor has said, ''It is our important duty to care for
handicapped people, the elderly and disaster victims.''
The imperial couple have visited facilities for the elderly and
handicapped people on most of their visits to local areas of Japan.
They have visited every prefecture in the 15 years since the emperor
assumed the throne.
Another characteristic of their work is so-called ''imperial
diplomacy,'' with the emperor and empress having made official overseas
trips 14 times.
After assuming the throne in January 1989, the emperor from September
to October that year visited Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, countries
which were invaded by the Japanese military during World War II.
In October 1992, Emperor Akihito became the first Japanese emperor to
make an official visit to China.
During the visit, he touched upon Japan's sensitive wartime past as an
aggressor in a speech stating that he deeply deplores the ''great
sufferings'' inflicted on the Chinese people by Japan before and during
WWII.
Expressing his feeling about his trip to Saipan in June 2005 to mourn
for the war dead, the emperor said in December that year that he was left
''heavy-hearted as I thought of the severe combat 61 years ago.''
He has not visited South Korea yet but an aide said he ''has a strong
desire to visit South Korea.''
The emperor witnessed a war-destroyed Tokyo when he was 11, following
his return from evacuation in Tochigi Prefecture three months after Japan
surrendered in WWII.
As crown prince, he highlighted ''four days you have to memorize'' --
Aug. 6 and 9, when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Aug.
15, when Japan accepted defeat in the war, and June 23, when the Battle of
Okinawa is said to have ended, all in 1945.
The emperor and empress reportedly still continue to offer silent
prayers every year on these days.
During the 2005 trip to Saipan, the emperor and empress visited
''Banzai Cliff'' and ''Suicide Cliff'' from where many civilians who were
cornered and had nowhere to go, dived into the sea.
The emperor and empress stood at the tip of the cliffs and prayed for
victims' souls.
The emperor has also expressed his hope for correct historical
perception and peace being passed on to the next generation.
He said at a press conference in 2005, ''I hope correct knowledge of
the facts in the past history will be passed on to (future generations) and
(what one has learned) will be applied in the future.''
The emperor, who turned 75 on Dec. 23, is expected to cut back on his
duties and events on a temporary basis on advice from doctors.
He has been found to have been suffering bleeding in the stomach and
other health problems possibly stemming from mental stress.
==Kyodo
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