Its the holiday weekend! Today was the emperor’s birthday, a national holiday here in Japan lots of people out and about. Known as Tenno no tanjobi (????? ) it is one of 2 times in the year that folks can get into the imperial grounds. Yesterday was freezing but folks still came out..
Even Santa came to pay his respects:
Of course it was freezing out side so after the emperor made his brief 3 minute appearance there was a need for these:
And perhaps later on that evening, a chance to retire and open “presents”: