The Emperor and Empress attended the annual New Year's poetry reading at the Imperial Palace on Friday, where poems by Imperial family members and the general public were recited in traditional style.

An annual New Year's poetry reading at the Imperial Palace was attended by the Emperor and Empress and other Imperial family members as well as some 80 guests.

Ten poems were chosen for recitation from 23,432 entries received from the public on this year's theme, "kusa," or herbaceous plants, the Imperial Household Agency said.