天皇誕生日の一般参賀見送り　新型コロナで２年連続―宮内庁

　宮内庁は１８日、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を防ぐため、天皇陛下の誕生日を祝う２月２３日の一般参賀を行わないと発表した。昨年も感染拡大を受けて直前で取りやめになっており、誕生日の一般参賀見送りは２年連続。
　お祝いの記帳も実施せず、一般参賀以外の宮殿での祝賀行事などは、感染状況を踏まえて判断するとしている。
　皇居での一般参賀は例年１月２日と天皇誕生日に行われ、天皇、皇后両陛下や皇族方が皇居・宮殿のベランダに姿を見せ、陛下があいさつされていた。
　例年数万人が訪れており、密集状況が避けられないとして、令和初だった昨年の天皇誕生日に続き、新年も参賀が見送られた。新年は陛下が代わりにビデオメッセージを出した。（2021/01/18-15:36）

Japan's Imperial Household Agency has announced a decision to cancel visits by members of the public to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 23 to congratulate Emperor Naruhito on his 61st birthday, in order to prevent a spread of the novel coronavirus.
   The epidemic will lead the Emperor's birthday greeting event at the palace to be called off for the second straight year. On Feb. 23 last year, Emperor Naruhito celebrated his birthday for the first time since he ascended the throne in May 2019.
   In line with the cancellation, well-wishers will have no opportunity to sign a greeting book at the palace on the Emperor's upcoming birthday, the agency said, adding that whether to hold other congratulatory events at the palace will be decided depending on the infection situation.
   On the annual greeting event, the Emperor usually appears on the balcony of the palace with other members of the Imperial Family and addresses visitors. With tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the palace normally for the birthday event and forming large crowds, the agency determined that it should be skipped to avoid a possible spread of the virus.
   A similar greeting event takes place on Jan. 2 every year. This year's event was canceled due to the continuing spread of the coronavirus, and Emperor Naruhito instead released a video message to the general public on New Year's Day.