Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko turned 88 on Thursday.

The Empress Emerita moved in April from a temporary dwelling to her current residence in the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo's Minato Ward, where she lived when she was Crown Princess.

Along with Emperor Emeritus Akihito, she strolls the garden in the morning and evening. She also reads books aloud after breakfast.

The Imperial Household Agency says the Empress Emerita is growing balloon plants after she was given their seeds by children at a nursery school near her former residence.

Along with the Emperor Emeritus, the Empress Emerita has been concerned about coronavirus patients, and the couple have been closely following infection numbers daily.

The agency says the Empress Emerita is also thinking of people in areas hit by natural disasters, including a major quake that occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in March.

An event to celebrate her birthday has not been held in recent years due to the impact of the pandemic and for other reasons. But a celebratory event will be held this year for the first time in four years -- in a simple manner, with measures against the coronavirus.