Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Friday met disaster victims in the areas of western Japan devastated by torrential rains in July that caused floods and mudslides and killed over 220 people.
The couple visited Seiyo, Ehime Prefecture, and Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, and gave words to cheer them up.
They had visited Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, last week but postponed their trips to other areas due to poor weather. The three prefectures of Ehime, Hiroshima and Okayama were hit the hardest by the rain disaster.
(Pool photo)
In Seiyo, where five people were killed by the disaster, the imperial couple saw the flooded river and collapsed houses from a patio of a building and was briefed about the situation of the city from the mayor.
The couple also visited temporary housing for the victims and met about 100 residents there.
"I admire your efforts to protect your children," the emperor told Kazuya Kodama, 33, and his 32-year-old wife Kaori. Their 5-year-old and 3-year-old daughters shook hands with the emperor.
"We can't go back to the life before the disaster, but it was an encouraging day today and we will stay strong as a family," Kaori Kodama said.
In Kure, where 25 people died, the imperial couple met disaster victims at a park near temporary housing units. The emperor encouraged them, saying, "It must have been hard after the disaster, but I wish you would get through it with energy."
They had expressed their wish to visit the areas affected by the rain disaster shortly after it occurred and canceled their planned summer retreat and another private trip.
The 84-year-old emperor, who is set to abdicate next April 30 as the first Japanese monarch to do so in 200 years, and his 83-year-old wife have been working rigorously to comfort disaster victims.
Related coverage:
Emperor, empress postpone visit to rain victims in Hiroshima, Ehime
Japanese emperor visits July deluge victims in Okayama
