Press Conference on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday (2013)
Question 1
As Your Majesty celebrates Your eightieth birthday, sanju, on December 23rd, we will soon be marking a quarter-century since the start of Your era of Heisei. In the course of the Showa era and the current Heisei era, we have lived through a world war, its aftermath and subsequent recovery, numerous natural disasters, and difficult economic times. Your Majesty has also undergone two major surgeries. Looking back on Your eighty years, please tell us about any events that have left special impressions on You, and also, about Your thoughts on turning eighty, and how You would like to lead Your life in the coming years.
Answer 1
Regarding the question on what events have left me with special impressions over the past eighty years, I would say that what stands out most in my mind is the Second World War. Japan was already at war with China by the time I reached school age. The following year, on December 8th, Japan also entered into war with the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in addition to China. I was in my last year of elementary school when the war ended. About 3.1 million Japanese people are said to have lost their lives in that war. It still pains me deeply to think that so many people, who must have had various dreams and hopes for the future, lost their lives at a young age.
After the war, Japan was occupied by the allied forces, and based on peace and democracy as values to be upheld, established the Constitution of Japan, undertook various reforms and built the foundation of Japan that we know today. I have profound gratitude for the efforts made by the Japanese people at the time who helped reconstruct and improve the country devastated by the war. I also feel that we must not forget the help extended to us in those days by Americans with an understanding of Japan and Japanese culture. Today, more than sixty years since the end of the war, we have seen that, in the face of major disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake, there are so many people in Japan who value the bonds between people, can deal with various situations calmly, and work hard towards reconstruction. I have found this most reassuring.
On reaching the age of eighty, I feel fortunate that I am able to lead a life always feeling gratitude to those who have rebuilt Japan and who continue to commit themselves across the nation to the betterment and development of our country in various ways. Having already lived eighty years, I am somewhat perplexed by the question about my life in the coming years, but I would say that, while accepting the limits arising from age, I hope to continue to fulfill my role as best I can.
Over the course of the eighty years of my life, there have been many ties and encounters with various people, starting with Emperor Showa, from all of whom I have learned much, both directly and indirectly. I am indebted to the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Guard Headquarters, and I feel grateful that I have been supported by so many sincere and devoted people to this day.
Being an emperor can be a lonely state. But with my marriage, I gained a partner who shares my appreciation for the things that I value. It has given me comfort and joy to have by my side the Empress, who has always respected my position and stood by me, and I feel most fortunate that I have been able to endeavor to carry out my role as Emperor with the Empress by my side.
I shall continue to pray every day for the happiness of the people and carry out my duties for the people.
天皇陛下お誕生日に際し
問1 陛下は傘寿を迎えられ，平成の時代になってまもなく四半世紀が刻まれます。昭和の時代から平成のいままでを顧みると，戦争とその後の復興，多くの災害や厳しい経済情勢などがあり，陛下ご自身の2度の大きな手術もありました。80年の道のりを振り返って特に印象に残っている出来事や，傘寿を迎えられたご感想，そしてこれからの人生をどのように歩もうとされているのかお聞かせ下さい。
天皇陛下
80年の道のりを振り返って，特に印象に残っている出来事という質問ですが，やはり最も印象に残っているのは先の戦争のことです。私が学齢に達した時には中国との戦争が始まっており，その翌年の12月8日から，中国のほかに新たに米国，英国，オランダとの戦争が始まりました。終戦を迎えたのは小学校の最後の年でした。この戦争による日本人の犠牲者は約310万人と言われています。前途に様々な夢を持って生きていた多くの人々が，若くして命を失ったことを思うと，本当に痛ましい限りです。
戦後，連合国軍の占領下にあった日本は，平和と民主主義を，守るべき大切なものとして，日本国憲法を作り，様々な改革を行って，今日の日本を築きました。戦争で荒廃した国土を立て直し，かつ，改善していくために当時の我が国の人々の払った努力に対し，深い感謝の気持ちを抱いています。また，当時の知日派の米国人の協力も忘れてはならないことと思います。戦後60年を超す歳月を経，今日，日本には東日本大震災のような大きな災害に対しても，人と人との絆きずなを大切にし，冷静に事に対処し，復興に向かって尽力する人々が育っていることを，本当に心強く思っています。
傘寿を迎える私が，これまでに日本を支え，今も各地で様々に我が国の向上，発展に尽くしている人々に日々感謝の気持ちを持って過ごせることを幸せなことと思っています。既に80年の人生を歩み，これからの歩みという問いにやや戸惑っていますが，年齢による制約を受け入れつつ，できる限り役割を果たしていきたいと思っています。
80年にわたる私の人生には，昭和天皇を始めとし，多くの人々とのつながりや出会いがあり，直接間接に，様々な教えを受けました。宮内庁，皇宮警察という組織の世話にもなり，大勢の誠意ある人々がこれまで支えてくれたことに感謝しています。
天皇という立場にあることは，孤独とも思えるものですが，私は結婚により，私が大切にしたいと思うものを共に大切に思ってくれる伴侶を得ました。皇后が常に私の立場を尊重しつつ寄り添ってくれたことに安らぎを覚え，これまで天皇の役割を果たそうと努力できたことを幸せだったと思っています。
これからも日々国民の幸せを祈りつつ，努めていきたいと思います。
日本国の象徴ですね。
