The Emperor and Empress attended an annual New Year's lecture program Wednesday, the Imperial Household Agency said.
This year's lectures covered topics including Chinese characters in the 11th century, information technology innovations and developments in basic cancer research, according to the agency.
Briefings at the ceremony, known as Koshohajime-no-gi, were given by Tatsuo Nishida, professor emeritus in linguistics at Kyoto University; Nobuaki Kumagai, professor emeritus in electronic communication at Osaka University; and Kumao Toyoshima, head of Sumitomo Hospital and an expert on oncology and virology.
Also present at the ceremony were other Imperial family members, including the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, as well as Hideki Shirakawa, winner of last year's Nobel Prize in chemistry and professor emeritus of the University of Tsukuba.
The ceremony was also attended by Prince Akishino, the second son of the Imperial Couple, his wife, Princess Kiko, and Princess Nori, the Imperial Couple's daughter.