Roots and Wings: The Radiance of Empress Michiko's Presence

2019/08/08

Strangely enough, I first had the opportunity to meet Empress Michiko (now Empress Emerita) when I was in my 20s. Although it was only for a brief moment, when I met her again 20 years later, she remembered that time and said, "We met in Oiso back then, didn't we?" I will never forget how surprised and moved I was.

Since then, I have had the privilege of publishing four of Empress Michiko's books, and through various interactions, we shared many nervous yet happy and enjoyable moments. I began to feel that it would be a waste to keep the various thoughts and experiences I had during that time all to myself.

With those thoughts in mind, when an editor earnestly encouraged me, I consulted with Empress Michiko. She said, "I think it would be fine, as you see me from a different perspective than others." So, I decided to first write a series for Shinchosha's magazine 'Nami,' starting with the January 2018 issue. I showed her each installment, and every time, she gave me various pieces of advice. I was truly amazed and overwhelmed by her wonderful and accurate memory.

The time she attended a friend's funeral, Shinzo Koizumi who worked hard for her marriage, her children, and her feelings toward the Emperor Emeritus. And of course, children's books. Even now, I believe that 'Building Bridges' (Hashi o Kakeru), which was written about her childhood reading, is unsurpassed in its genre. Originally, it was a speech prepared as a keynote for the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) World Congress in New Delhi, India. However, because India conducted nuclear tests, the government decided at the last minute that the Empress could not attend, and it ultimately became a video lecture.

However, because of that, the video recording was broadcast in Japan by NHK and received very high ratings, which we then turned into the book 'Building Bridges.' The title of this book, 'Roots and Wings,' is a title I remember fondly, as we deliberated together on which one to choose when creating 'Building Bridges.'

Roots and Wings: The Radiance of Empress Michiko's Presence

Chieko Suemori

Shinchosha

208 pages, 1,300 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.