両陛下、国文祭開会式に　能登の犠牲者へ黙とう―岐阜

　天皇、皇后両陛下は１４日、新幹線で岐阜県入りし、岐阜市内で開かれた第３９回国民文化祭と第２４回全国障害者芸術・文化祭の開会式に出席された。
　両陛下は式の冒頭、参加者と共に、能登半島での地震と大雨被害の犠牲者の冥福を祈り黙とうした。天皇陛下はあいさつで、被災者へのお見舞いの気持ちを示した上で、「今回の取組を通じ、文化芸術活動の裾野が広がり、新たな文化の創造につながっていくことを期待しております」と述べた。
　両陛下は終了後、式関係者と懇談。ステージで朗読を披露した、視覚障害のある地元の高校３年生古田桃香さん（１８）に対し、天皇陛下は「ずいぶん練習されましたか」と尋ねていた。（2024/10/14-19:20）

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako traveled to Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, by Shinkansen bullet train to attend the opening ceremony of national cultural festivals Monday.
   The Imperial couple arrived at Gifu-Hashima Station of Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai, just before noon. They waved and smiled at citizens who gathered at the station.
   The Emperor and the Empress attended the opening ceremony of the 39th National Cultural Festival and the 24th National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities at a facility in Gifu's namesake capital.
   At the start of the ceremony, the couple, along with other participants, offered silent prayers for the victims of the Jan. 1 earthquake and the September rain disaster that hit the Noto Peninsula, also in central Japan.
   After expressing sympathy for people affected by the Noto disasters, Emperor Naruhito said he hopes that the festivals will help expand the scope of cultural and artistic activities and lead to the creation of new culture.