Historic Imperial Attendance: Japan's Royal Family Cheers on Samurai Japan at WBC
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko attended the World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Japan and Australia at Tokyo Dome on the evening of March 8th. This marked the first time the Imperial Family as a whole watched a WBC game together, and it was a historic "Tenzan-jiai" (imperial viewing) for an international baseball match, the first in approximately 60 years. Initially, only Emperor Naruhito's attendance was announced, but it was later suddenly decided that Empress Masako and Princess Aiko would also accompany him. Although Japan had already secured its spot in the quarterfinals that day, the Imperial Family's presence made the game even more special. This was particularly significant for Princess Aiko, as it was her first time attending a WBC game at a stadium. This unusual attendance was met with joy and surprise from many citizens. On social media, numerous comments expressed anticipation, such as "It's truly wonderf...