The Emperor's New Clothes

The Emperor of Japan comes out twice a year to greet his people. Once is on his Birthday on December 23rd and the other is on the 2nd of January where he gives his blessing for the new year. We went on Friday the 2nd with my Japanese teacher Tomoko and her family, and our friend Amy Joiner and her son Eric. We took the train and subway to "Nijubashi" (means two bridges for the two bridges you cross over the moat to get to the palace). We were led into a security line where we got frisked. There were thousands of people there, but the efficiency was amazing. We also had strollers so we were ushered into a different line and bypassed a lot of people. We lined up and were all given paper Japanese flags. Shortly, a great door opened and we all filed over a bridge and through the portcullis. There was a guard, very reminiscent of the Beefeaters in London, standing at attention as we walked past. We went up a hill and around a bend where we saw a beautiful Japanese building which I think is Edo Castle rebuilt. We went a bit farther (despit the thousands of people, the line moved quickly and orderly and everyone respected personal space) and went through another gate and came into a courtyard where there was a really long, low building. There was a glass porch - like a sunporch - on the second floor that was empty but was guarded on either side with "secret service." We all filed into the courtyard where we waited for 15 minutes when the Imperial Family filed out onto the porch. Although you can't tell from the picture (my iphone doesn't have zoom), we had a great view of the Emperor and his family. It was surreal listening to shouts of "Banzai" (eternal life) and the crackling of the paper flags in the wind. I do have to say after taking the kids to get dressed up in traditional Japanese kimonos, it was kind of disappointing to see the emperor dressed in his business suit, but it was a great experience in general. After a few minutes of waving and the Emperor giving his short blessing, he and his family filed out of the porch and we were all ushered through the exit and down the hill coming out on the opposite side of the entrance. We saw a beautiful pagoda and some beautiful gates on our way through the gardens and out of the property where we were deposited once again in the middle of the city. We all had a great time and are glad we had this opportunity that some Japanese only take advantage of once in their lives (like a trip to Mecca).