One man strips naked after Naruhito New Year palace wave

A man stripped naked after Emperor Naruhito finished his New Year greeting at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2, 2026, according to Japanese media. The man, standing in the front row of the palace gardens, removed his clothes and climbed over a barrier moments after the emperor waved to the crowd from the balcony. Officers from the imperial guard and Tokyo police restrained him immediately, wrapped him in a blanket, and led him away as stunned spectators looked on. Investigative sources told broadcaster TBS the man was in his 20s and had announced on social media that he planned to strip naked during the annual address. The New Year event features brief remarks from Emperor Naruhito, followed by a ceremonial wave with members of the imperial family to thousands of visitors. The emperor holds no political power, but public criticism or disruption is extremely rare, which made this brief flash of chaos stand out against centuries of formality.