Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the Ohinata settlement in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, during their summer break in the resort town. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/24/japan/emperor-emeritus-postwar-settlement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #emperorakihito #empressmichiko#imperialfamily #karuizawa #nagano #wwii
The resort town of Karuizawa has long been associated with summer retreats, and serves as a muse of sorts to writers such as Minae Mizumura who sees it as being uniquely situated between Japanese and Western culture. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/08/books/minae-mizumura-karuizawa-literature/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #books #books #minaemizumura #literature #karuizawa #nagano