Photographing the Emperor: A First-Hand Account of the 2025 New Year Greeting
Emperor Naruhito greeted the public at the Imperial Palace on New Year’s Day for the first time in two years. I went to photograph the event. It was my first time photographing him as a reigning monarch. I planned to go in 2024, but the event was cancelled due to the Noto earthquake. It was going to be a big event.
Arriving at the palace: 6 a.m. start
I got up at 6 a.m. to go early. That way I could beat the crowds, couldn’t I? Well, that was overly optimistic. I left Tokyo Station, and I was crushed. Loads of people were walking towards the Imperial Palace with me. Next time I’ll be up at 5 a.m.
The atmosphere in the plaza
As we stood in the vast plaza, waiting, it struck me how simple the premise of the event is. The Emperor and his family appear on the Chowaden Hall balcony for a few minutes to offer blessings for the nation’s health and peace. It’s a tradition that clearly still holds immense power, judging by the thousands of us gathered here.
Well, it’s popular. For his first appearance on 2 January 2025, 13000 people from all walks of life were there. Families had come. Many foreigners were there. Of course, there were the right-wingers, too. The Emperor pulls a big, diverse crowd.
Navigating security and the Imperial grounds
Security was on high alert. It was everywhere. The Tokyo riot police brought plenty of their blue buses. Plain-clothed and uniformed police scanned the crowd looking for potential trouble. Even the dog squad was in attendance.
I made my way through the security check and waited. We were early, so we waited an hour for the gates to open. That happened at 9:30, and the crowd proceeded inside. We passed over two bridges, Eyeglasses and Nijubashi. Finally, we got into the plaza in front of Chowaden Hall.
The main event: The Emperor appears
The event never changes. Everyone moves in, and police guide you where to go. Japanese media occupies a platform at the rear. Everyone waits quietly for the Emperor to appear.
That happened at 10:10. Emperor Naruhito appeared. A series of “Tennouheika Banzai” (Hooray for the Emperor) went up from the crowd, and the forest of flags made one thing clear. The affection for Emperor Naruhito in that crowd was immense.
A photographer's dilemma: The wrong lens
As I raised my Canon, the limitation of my 24-105mm lens became painfully obvious. The Emperor was a small figure in my viewfinder, and I knew instantly that I’d be cropping heavily to get a usable shot.
A message of peace and a swift departure
His wife, Masako, and daughter, Aiko, were with him. Naruhito’s brother and some of his family were there. Emperor Emeritus Akihito and his wife Michiko were also on the balcony.
It was good to see Former Empress Michiko, who is ninety years old. She underwent surgery for a broken femur in October. Reports said she attended the event without a cane. She looked in good health.
Once things quietened down, the Emperor made his speech. He spoke of his concerns for the people of Noto, who were hit by an earthquake on New Year’s Day 2024. He wished for 2025 to be a peaceful year and prayed for happiness at home and abroad.
And that was it! It was over in a few minutes. Once the Emperor left the balcony, everyone exited through various gates. One sea of humanity was replaced by another. It was an unforgettable experience, well worth the early start and the crush of the crowd.
Final thoughts and my goal for 2026
My goal for 2025 is still to get a 70-200mm lens. I’m not there yet, but I’m determined to have it in my camera bag for the 2026 greeting!
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.
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External related websites
- Imperial Household Agency (official website)