Crown Princess Masako joined the rest of the Imperial family in greeting the public at the start of 2005 on Sunday after missing the annual ritual last year to recover from a psychological disorder brought on by the stresses of royal life.
Dressed in a sequined, blue velvet dress accented by a sparkling pendant, the Crown Princess smiled and waved gently from a glass-enclosed balcony on the Imperial Palace grounds.
Emperor Akihito briefly addressed the estimated crowd of 19,000 people, which responded with shouts of "Banzai" -- or long life -- while waving flags.
"I am sincerely delighted to be able to celebrate the new year with you," the Emperor told the crowd. "I hope for your happiness and pray for world peace."
The 41-year-old Crown Princess has largely stayed out of the public eye since December 2003, when she was hospitalized and diagnosed with shingles -- a viral infection that typically results in pain and a rash.
About eight months later, palace officials said the Harvard and Oxford-educated former diplomat was suffering from adjustment disorder, a stress-induced condition marked by bouts of depression and anxiety, and was receiving counseling and medication.
She said she was suffering from accumulated stress, while her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, noted the enormous pressures on her to produce a royal heir.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's only daughter, Princess Nori, meanwhile, participated in the greeting for the last time ahead of her expected marriage this year to Tokyo Metropolitan Government official Yoshiki Kuroda.
As a woman born in the Imperial family, the 35-year-old Princess Nori will lose her royal title, move out of the palace and become a commoner after she weds.