It's not every day that we get to raise a toast to the health of an emperor, but Friday evening saw such a celebration in the city -the 81st birthday of Japanese emperor Akihito. The Japanese consulate celebrated the occasion at a five-star property in the city on Friday . The emperor's birthday -December 23 -is celebrated as the national day in
Japan, and even the city event saw consuls and vice-consuls of various countries, members of Kolkata's intelligentsia and many more in attendance.
Japanese consul general
Kazumi Endo gave a brief speech, conveying the emperor's message of gratitude that also dwelt on the bilateral relationship between the two countries.“I have been in Kolkata for just six months, but I must say , I have really enjoyed my stay here. When the emperor visited India and Kolkata for the first time, he and his wife were just in their 20s. I can see why he couldn't resist a second visit,“ the consul general said with a smile.
While most of the dignitaries turned up in formals and saris, the wives of the consul general and the vice-consul general looked gorgeous in the traditional Japanese Kimono.