両陛下、３月下旬に能登へ　被災地見舞い、日帰りで調整

　天皇、皇后両陛下が能登半島地震の被災者を見舞うため、３月下旬に現地を訪問される方向で調整が進んでいることが２１日、関係者への取材で分かった。両陛下が自然災害の被災地に足を運び、被災者を直接見舞うのは即位後２度目となる。
　関係者によると、両陛下は東京から空路で能登空港（石川県輪島市）に到着後、ヘリに乗り換え、甚大な被害を受けた輪島、珠洲両市などを視察し、被災者とも懇談する。現地の負担を考慮し、訪問は日帰りとなる見通し。
　両陛下は元日の地震発生後、被害に深く心を痛め、宮内庁は翌２日の新年一般参賀を急きょ取りやめた。側近によると、両陛下は早く現地を訪れて直接被災者を見舞うことを希望する一方、訪問によって地元に負担を掛けたくないとも考えており、同庁が現地の状況を見極めながら日程を調整している。（2024/02/21-10:18）

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako may visit areas heavily damaged by the Jan. 1 major earthquake in the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, in late March to meet with affected local people, sources said Wednesday.
   It will be the second time for the Imperial couple to visit natural disaster-hit areas and directly express sympathy to afflicted locals since the Emperor ascended the throne in May 2019.
   Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are expected to travel from Tokyo to Noto Airport in the Ishikawa city of Wajima by airplane and then visit heavily affected areas in Wajima and the city of Suzu by helicopter, according to the sources.
   The travel will likely be a day trip to minimize the burden of related local communities, the sources said. The Imperial Household Agency is working to decide a schedule for the couple's visit to affected areas while watching the local situation.
   In the wake of the 7.6-magnitude New Year's Day quake, the Imperial couple canceled an event on Jan. 2 in which the couple and other Imperial family members were to greet the general public at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, as they felt deep sadness over the heavy damage from the earthquake.