Emperor Naruhito planted rice seeds at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 15 as part of annual tradition.

He sowed 720 seeds of two varieties of rice, the non-glutinous Nihonmasari and the glutinous Mangetsumochi, on four square sections of the nursery bed.

The seeds are expected to germinate in about a week.

If all goes well, they will be planted on rice paddies in May and harvested in September.

The harvested rice will be used for various imperial ceremonies.