More than 70,000 well-wishers gathered Tuesday at the Imperial Palace to offer New Year's greetings to the Emperor and other members of the Imperial family.
The Emperor, Empress and other family members, including the Crown Prince, appeared on the Chowaden palace balcony to greet the crowd, many of whom waved Japanese flags.
"I am very happy to celebrate the new year with you. I pray for peace and happiness for my country and the world," the 67-year-old Emperor said.
Three greeting sessions were held in the morning followed by another four in the afternoon. The number of visitors -- 70,870 -- was 13,630 more than last year, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
On Monday, the Emperor and Empress received New Year's greetings from members of the Imperial family, government officials and ambassadors at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
At 10 a.m., the Imperial Couple -- the Emperor in tails and the Empress in a decollete robe -- received callers at the Matsunoma hall. They were visited by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, followed by Prince Akishino, his wife, Princess Kiko, and other members of the Imperial family.
About 500 government officials, including Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, House of Councilors President Yutaka Inoue, Supreme Court Chief Justice Shigeru Yamaguchi and prefectural governors, offered their greetings to the Imperial Couple and other Imperial family members.
In the afternoon, ambassadors and other members of foreign diplomatic missions in Japan greeted the Emperor and the Empress. Some of the representatives were clad in their national clothing.