Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan to visit Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures in 2026, 15 years after the massive earthquake and tsunami. The trip, announced by people familiar with the matter, reflects their ongoing commitment to the affected regions.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan to visit Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures in 2026, 15 years after the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the region on March 11, 2011. People familiar with the matter announced this on Thursday, November 14, 2025.
Before ascending to the throne, as Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, they visited the three prefectures three times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021—10 years after the disaster—the imperial couple spoke online with affected people in these prefectures. In 2023, they visited Iwate to attend a tree-planting festival.
The couple is also considering traveling to Kumamoto Prefecture in 2026, 10 years after powerful earthquakes hit the area.