両陛下、国体開会式に　２年８カ月ぶり地方訪問―栃木

　天皇、皇后両陛下は１日、栃木県を訪れ、宇都宮市で開催された国民体育大会の総合開会式に出席された。両陛下の地方訪問は約２年８カ月ぶりで、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大以降初めて。
　両陛下は午後、宇都宮市の「カンセキスタジアムとちぎ」で行われた開会式に出席。国体開会式への出席は３年ぶりで、天皇陛下は関係者の努力に謝意を表し、「皆さんと共に出席できることをうれしく思います。スポーツのすばらしさを実感しつつ、一期一会を大切にして、すばらしい思い出を作ってください」とあいさつした。
　続いて両陛下は、地元の高校生らによるダンスや歌に拍手を送った。（2022/10/01-21:01）

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the general opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival in Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, Saturday.
   This marked the Imperial couple's first trip outside of Tokyo since the COVID-19 outbreak. They last made a regional trip two years and eight months ago.
   The opening ceremony took place at Kanseki Stadium Tochigi in the afternoon. The couple attended the National Sports Festival opening ceremony for the first time in three years.
   Praising people who worked to hold the sports event, the Emperor said, "I'm happy to be able to attend (the opening ceremony) with you all."
   "I want you to make good memories while feeling the greatness of sports and cherishing the spirit of once-in-a-lifetime encounter," he continued.