DUSHANBE, December 24, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday sent a congratulatory cable to Emperor Akihito of Japan on the occasion of His Majesty''s birthday.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, Tajik leader, in particular, noted in his cable that Tajikistan attaches significance to its bilateral cooperation with Japan and hopes for further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation with it.

“We are ready to deepen constructive and comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the two friendly and fraternal peoples in the future as well,” Rahmon noted.

The Emperor''s Birthday is a national holiday in the Japanese calendar celebrated on December 23 of each year. The date is determined by the reigning Emperor''s birth date.  Emperor Akihito was born on December 23, 1933.

On December 23, a public ceremony takes place at the Imperial Palace, where the gates of the palace are opened to public traffic (the Imperial Palace is usually off limits to the public).  The Emperor, accompanied by the Empress, and several other members of the Imperial Family appear on a palace balcony to acknowledge the birthday congratulations of crowds of festive well-wishers waving tiny Japanese flags.