Japan's Naruhito speach for New year

Japan's Emperor Naruhito waved to cheering, flag-waving crowds from a palace balcony in his first New Year's greeting since ascending to the throne. Naruhito and his wife Masako were joined by his parents, the former Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko, in the appearance at the Imperial Palace. The 86-year-old Akihito stepped down in April last year in an extremely rare imperial abdication. Naruhito told the crowd he was praying for world peace and noted the suffering of people in Japan affected by natural disasters last year. "I hope this new year will be a year free of disasters, peaceful and good for all of you," he said. Public broadcaster NHK TV said some 68,700 people had thronged the palace to cheer the imperial family by late Thursday morning. More were expected throughout the day. (Photo by Hitoshi Katanoda/AFLO)