It was fire drill day at the Imperial Household Agency in Tokyo, and the VIPs did not stay on the sidelines. On September 1, 2026, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko picked up fire extinguishers and joined the Agency’s annual drill – hoses, spray, the whole thing.
The scene comes courtesy of the Agency’s own Instagram, @kunaicho_jp, which put the photograph at the top of its September roundup of the imperial family’s activities. And what a photo it is: the three of them lined up in the courtyard, extinguishers at the ready, a bright white stream shooting across the frame. Everyone is grinning like it is the best part of their week.
Hands On, Everyone Smiling
The Empress and Princess Aiko are working a nozzle together, laughing as the suppressant flies. The Emperor is on his own red extinguisher, all business and all smiles at once. Behind them, the Agency staff – dozens of them, in shirtsleeves and badges – are part of the same drill, watching the imperial trio do exactly what they do every year.
You know a drill is going well when people are enjoying it. Safety training has a reputation for being dry. This photograph is the opposite of dry – well, except for the extinguishers, which are doing their job.
Japan’s September Tradition
Every September, Japan devotes the month to disaster prevention. It makes sense in a country that lives with earthquakes: practicing is a national habit, from schoolchildren to government offices. The Imperial Household Agency’s annual drill at its building is part of that rhythm, and having the imperial family take part is the Agency’s way of saying this stuff matters.
The message travels fast on Instagram. Millions of followers, one unmistakable image: if the Emperor can handle an extinguisher, you can learn how too.
Three Cheers for the Drill
Fire-safety day does not usually make headlines. This one earned its place – not because anything went wrong, but because everything went right. Three people, three extinguishers, one courtyard in Tokyo, and a lesson for everyone watching.
Photo: @kunaicho_jp
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