The three-day April extravaganza, making its debut in Japan, will be held at Chiba’s Zozo Marine Stadium.
Sparing a thought for medical workers during these challenging times, the Emperor mentioned themes ranging from the Tokyo Olympics, climate change and niece Mako’s marriage.
Hannes Bjorninen scored 31 seconds into the third period to lift Finland past Russia.
Porteous dethroned two-time Olympic champion David Wise on the penultimate day of the Beijing Games.
The 2018 Olympic bronze medalist advanced to the final four on a tiebreaker after Britain, Japan and Canada finished with identical records.
Slovakia tied it late in regulation, survived a 10-minute 3-on-3 overtime, then won it in a shootout to advance to the semifinals.
Sochi gold medalist Joergen Graabak and fellow Norwegian Jens Luraas Oftebro took the lead from Watabe and held on for the top two spots.
Gold medalist Austria saves its best for last in the final round, with Slovenia and Germany placing second and third, respectively.
“I really risked everything in the second run because I wanted not just the medal, I wanted the gold medal,” the Swiss champion said.
The 25-year-old becomes only the second Japanese to medal on both hills at the same Olympics, after Kazuyoshi Funaki in 1998 in Nagano.
Skip Satsuki Fujisawa’s 97% accuracy in the draw was instrumental in the team’s result.
Misaki Oshigiri and Momoka Horikawa, Japan’s two skaters in the event, set personal-best times.