When he and the Crown Princess Michiko visited Himeyuri-no-to Tower (The Tower of Lilies) for offering flowers on July 17, two members of radical parties (Isao CHINEN belonging to the preparatory society for Okinawa liberation alliance and the other belonging to the communist alliance) lurking at the spot hurled a Molotov cocktail at the Imperial couple (so-called "The incident at Himeyuri-no-to Tower.")
7月17日、美智子妃を伴いひめゆりの塔に献花のため訪れたところ、その場に潜んでいた過激派二人（沖縄解放同盟準備会メンバーの知念功と共産主義者同盟のメンバー二人）から火炎瓶を投げつけられる（ひめゆりの塔事件。）