Japan's Imperial Household Agency has canceled visits by the general public to the Imperial Palace for the New Year Greeting by the Imperial family. The decision follows the strong earthquake that hit central Japan on Monday.

The Emperor and Empress, the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, and other members of the Imperial family were scheduled to greet well-wishers from a palace veranda five times on Tuesday.

The Imperial Household Agency says this is the first time a greeting to the general public at the palace has been canceled due to a natural disaster.

The agency says Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako wish that rescue operations and fire-fighting efforts in affected areas will progress as quickly as possible amid the severe cold weather.