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The Mainichi answers some common questions readers may have about news conferences with the Emperor of Japan.

Question: Emperor Akihito held a news conference for the 20th anniversary of his enthronement. How many times a year does His Majesty hold news conferences?

Answer: As a general rule, the Emperor holds only one news conference every year, before his birthday on Dec. 23. However, His Majesty also holds news conferences before departing on foreign visits. As the Emperor and Empress travel together, they hold such news conferences as a couple.

Q: The Imperial Couple visited Canada and Hawaii in July, but they didn't have a news conference, right?

A: That's right. The Imperial Couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April, and held a news conference then. Had the Emperor also held a news conference upon his departure for Canada and Hawaii, added to the ones for his wedding anniversary, his birthday and his enthronement anniversary, it would make four conferences this year. So, to reduce the burden on the Emperor and Empress, both 75 years old, when the Imperial Couple headed abroad the Imperial Household Agency decided to issue a written statement instead of holding a news conference.

Q: Are news conferences all that taxing?

A: According to the Imperial Household Agency, Emperor Akihito revises his written answers to the media's questions right up to the very beginning of the conference. "Even on days when His Majesty has no official duties, he is thinking all the time of how to answer the media's questions, and it seems like he just can't take a break," one concerned Imperial Household Agency source says.

Q: He makes statements to the public outside of news conferences as well, doesn't he?

A: Yes, he does. Every year, the Imperial Couple attend a number of ceremonies and events across Japan, such as the national tree planting festival, the National Sports Festival and international academic conferences, where the Emperor offers statements. However, as part of a plan to reduce the workload on the Emperor, the Imperial Household Agency announced in January that, as a general principle, the Emperor would not speak at events. In fact this year, the Emperor has not made any comments during smaller public appearances, saving their statements for only major events.

Q: Recently, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada asked if there was "any way to include the Emperor's thoughts" in the opening ceremonies of the current Diet session.

A: Any speech the Emperor makes at the opening of the Diet sessions is a cooperative effort between the Cabinet and the Imperial Household Agency, and the actual content is up to the Cabinet.

Q: So any time the Emperor holds a news conference is very precious, isn't it?

A: Exactly so. Opportunities to hold news conferences with the Emperor or hear his statements are quite limited, so each word he does utter in public is important. (Answers by Mitsuyuki Manabe, City News Department)