秋篠宮ご夫妻、伊勢神宮参拝へ　４月、新型コロナで延期

　秋篠宮ご夫妻が伊勢神宮などを参拝するため、４月下旬に三重、奈良、京都の３府県を訪問される方向で調整が進められていることが２４日、関係者への取材で分かった。秋篠宮さまが皇位継承順位１位となったことを内外に示す「立皇嗣の礼」の関連行事だが、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大のため延期されていた。ご夫妻の地方訪問はコロナの感染拡大後では初めてとなる。
　関係者によると、ご夫妻は３泊４日の日程で伊勢神宮（三重）と神武天皇陵（奈良）、明治天皇陵（京都）などを参拝する予定。
　立皇嗣の礼は２０２０年１１月に実施されたが、駅頭や沿道に多くの人が集まるのを避けるため、参拝は見合わせていた。「まん延防止等重点措置」が２１日の期限で解除されたことを受けて本格的な調整が始まったが、今後の感染状況次第で見送られる可能性もあるという。（2022/03/24-11:38）

Arrangements are underway for Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko to go to Mie, Nara and Kyoto prefectures in late April to visit Ise Jingu, a major Shinto shrine, and elsewhere, sources said Thursday.
   The trip, postponed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, is related to the "Rikkoshi-no-rei" ceremonies. The ceremonies proclaimed that Crown Prince Akishino is first in line to the throne, currently held by Emperor Naruhito, the Crown Prince's older brother.
   It will be the first time since the coronavirus spread across Japan for Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko to visit areas other than Tokyo.
   During the trip for three nights and four days, the couple is expected to visit Ise Jingu in Mie, central Japan, the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu, Japan's mythical first Emperor, in the western prefecture of Nara and the mausoleum of Emperor Meiji, the great-great-grandfather of Crown Prince Akishino, in Kyoto, also western Japan.
   Although the Rikkoshi-no-rei ceremonies were held in November 2020, the visit to the three sites was postponed out of concern that a large number of people would gather at railroad stations and along roads to see the couple.