The men's soccer team won big in Malaysia on the night of the 22nd, and qualification for the London Olympics is coming into view. Along with Nadeshiko Japan, there is more to look forward to.
Nadeshiko Japan's Homare Sawa was invited to last autumn's garden party along with coach Sasaki, and received words of encouragement from Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.
Garden parties are held twice a year, in spring and autumn. Guests of the moment are invited—Nobel laureates, Olympic gold medalists, and the like. Who will be invited to the garden party in April this year? Surely not that person who just won the Akutagawa Prize—probably not.
The venue, unfortunately, is not the Imperial Palace right in front of Palaceside Building, but within the Akasaka Imperial Grounds where the Crown Prince's residence stands. In the spacious garden, guests are treated to food and drink, and on the way home receive souvenirs—photos. There have been dorayaki bearing the chrysanthemum crest. We can only pray that His Majesty the Emperor, who underwent heart surgery, will appear in good health at the spring garden party, following the memorial ceremony for the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.