On the occasion of his 78th birthday Friday, Emperor Akihito reflected on the past year and expressed his concern and continued support for victims of the quake, tsunami and nuclear crisis triggered on March 11.
"(It has been) a truly distressing year, dominated by disasters," the Emperor said in a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency.
The Emperor voiced his concerns about the health of the evacuees, especially the elderly, who still face severe conditions in disaster-hit areas.
"(But) it has been encouraging to note that the (evacuated) people in the afflicted areas are enduring the harsh conditions and that many people are volunteering to support (disaster) victims," the Emperor said. (Japan Times)
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