Emperor Akihito’s 83rd Birthday at the Imperial Palace
How often can you photograph a reigning monarch from fifty meters away? 23 December 2016, gave me that opportunity. With a camera in hand and high hopes for capturing Japan’s Emperor Akihito, I headed to the Imperial Palace with a huge crowd. Much of the day was about navigating unexpected weather and tricky window reflections. Here’s what happened.
Let’s start with the weather. I made a mistake before even getting out the door. It was winter, but the day was warm. I left home in jeans, a jacket, and a scarf. When I got to the palace, people were in shorts and T-shirts. I should have checked the forecast because I was sweating.
Weather aside, the event was good. I don’t mean it was good in a fun way but good as in that everything proceeded smoothly. Getting through security checks was easy and painless. The police got the 33,300 visitors into and out of the palace without a problem. That was appreciated. The continuous “Please keep moving. Don’t stand still to take pictures”, wasn’t.
Emperor Akihito appeared on the balcony of Chowaden Hall at the appointed time. When the doors opened, the crowd roared their approval. Everyone raised their flags high over their heads.
The emperor looked well for his age. His wife, Empress Michiko, sons, their wives, and two granddaughters followed him. In his brief speech, he thanked the people for their well-wishes. He expressed his worries for Itoigawa city in Niigata prefecture. Many residents had lost homes and businesses due to a fire.
I stayed there for his three appearances to get as many pictures as possible. Due to the crowd’s size and not being the tallest guy, I had to stand on my tiptoes. I needed that extra bit of height to get my lens over everyone’s heads.
And then there were the windows on the balcony where Emperor Akihito appears. They were difficult to shoot through. No matter where you stand, they reflect lots of light. Standing in one place is never a good idea there. Moving positions between his appearances is the best way to go.
Staying in front of Chowaden Hall during the breaks is no problem, as the police don’t usher you out. But, many people will remain, so move quickly to your next spot. Others will want to leave, so be aware of the congestion.
This event made me want to get a long zoom lens. The Pentax 18-135 that I used at the time was way too short. I had to crop all my photos to get Emperor Akihito and his family to a reasonable size.
On that day, the media people were behind me. The smallest lens there was probably 400 mm. They came prepared. They also had salaries and budgets to allow them to buy that gear. I had to wait another five years till I got mine!
Emperor Akihito’s birthday is always a good event. You just need to be aware that the crowds will be massive. Japan’s Imperial family is popular, and people like to get a glimpse of them whenever possible.
Leave your questions and comments below. And if you have been to this event at the Imperial Palace, tell us what you thought about it.
Emperor Akihito photos camera gear:
- Camera body: Pentax K-3
- Lens: Pentax SMC DA 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL (If) DC WR
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more Imperial Palace articles:
External Emperor Emeritus Akihito articles:
- Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (Imperial Household Agency website)