天皇陛下が即位後初の稲刈り＝皇居

　天皇陛下は１９日、皇居内の生物学研究所脇の水田で、即位後初めてとなる稲刈りをされた。皇居での稲作は昭和天皇が始め、上皇さまから陛下が引き継いだ。
　長袖シャツと紺のズボン姿の陛下は長靴を履き、新調した鎌を右手に持ち、５月に自ら植えたもち米のマンゲツモチと、うるち米のニホンマサリの計１００株をしゃがんで手際よく刈り取った。
　宮内庁によると、今年の作柄は平年並みで台風１５号の影響もなかった。収穫した米は伊勢神宮の神嘗祭などに使われる。例年は宮中祭祀（さいし）の新嘗祭に使われるが、今年は代わって大嘗祭が行われ、栃木県高根沢町と京都府南丹市の斎田の米が使われる。（2019/09/19-15:11）

Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Thursday conducted his first rice harvest at the Imperial Palace since he assumed the throne on May 1.
   Rice farming at the palace was initiated by the current Emperor's grandfather, Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa. The practice was passed on to now-Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and then to Emperor Naruhito.
   Wearing a long-sleeved shirt, navy pants and boots, Emperor Naruhito harvested rice he planted in the paddy field near a biology laboratory at the palace in May. He cut a total of 100 plants of the "Mangetsumochi" glutinous rice variety and "Nihonmasari," a nonglutinous brand, with a new sickle.
   According to the Imperial Household Agency, this year's harvest was average, with no impacts from Typhoon Faxai, which tore through eastern Japan last week. The harvested grain will be used at rituals such as the Kannamesai ceremony to celebrate the first rice crop of the year at Ise Jingu, a Shinto shrine complex in Mie Prefecture, central Japan.
   Rice from the paddy is normally used in the "Niinamesai" first harvest celebration ceremony, an annual ritual at the palace. This year, the ceremony is replaced by "Daijosai," the first Niinamesai performed by a new emperor. Rice from Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, and the western prefecture of Kyoto will be used for the Daijosai ritual by Emperor Naruhito, set for Nov. 14-15.