Princess Aiko News and Current Events Part 4: January 2021 -

She is just beautiful and lovely. Many congratulations to her on this accomplishment!

The Imperial Household Agency revealed Princess Aiko reported her university graduation to the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries on the morning of March 22.

Source: NTV

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Princess Aiko participated in the Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School's graduation concert on March 12. She attended the practice and performed in the chorus. When Aiko graduated from high school 4 years ago, the concert was not held due to the pandemic. This year, the school invited alumni from pandemic years and their parents. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako also attended the performance. Afterwards, Their Majesties toured the campus and thanked high school and university teachers and staff for the care given to Aiko.

Princess Aiko is busy preparing for her March 26-27 visit to Mie and Nara Prefectures.

Sources: NTV, FNN

On March 26th, Princess Aiko traveled to Mie Prefecture to report her graduation from Gakushin University and Japanese Red Cross Society employment at Ise Jingu. She departed from the Imperial Palace around 8:30am to Tokyo Station and arrived in Toba, Mie Prefecture before 1pm.

After changing clothes at a hotel in Toba, she visited Geku (Outer shrine) around 3pm and Naiku (Inner shrine) around 4:30pm. Princess Aiko offered tamagushi and bowed deeply.

Photos: AP Images, TBS

FNN gallery of departure from Tokyo and arrival at Toba, Mie.
FNN gallery of Geku
FNN gallery of Naiku

Tokyo station:

Nagoya station?

More galleries of March 26: Asahi, Sankei, Nikkansports, Getty Images
Iseshima - Geku
Iseshima - Naiku

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On March 27th, Princess Aiko visited Saiku Historical Museum and Itsukinomiya Hall for Historical Experience in Meiwa, Mie Prefecture before traveling to Nara Prefecture.

Saiku Historical Museum tells the history of Saiku, residence and office of Saio, an unmarried Imperial princess appointed to serve Ise Jingu. There's also an exhibit on Princess Shokushi's waka poems (Aiko's graduation thesis subject). Princess Shokushi served as Saio at Kamo Shrine for 10 years.

Itsukinomiya Hall for Historical Experience tells the history and culture of the Heian period. Princess Aiko met local elementary school students playing "Kaiawase," a shell game played by Heian era nobility.

In the afternoon, Princess Aiko visited the Mausoleum of Emperor Jimmu in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture. She reported her graduation from Gakushuin University and Japanese Red Cross Society employment, offering tamagushi and bowing.

Photos: AP Images, Asahi, Mainichi, FNN, Getty Images

Aiko seems to really be coming into her own this past year. She’s a lovely young woman - just based on pictures and the short videos above, she seems to be very friendly and maybe more outgoing than her parents?

Princess Aiko met with the press on her first day as non-regular staff at the Japan Red Cross Society in Tokyo today, April 1:


** gettyimages gallery **

On April 2nd, the Imperial Household Agency released Princess Aiko's written responses to press questions about her job: 愛子内親王殿下日本赤十字社ご就職に際しての文書回答 - 宮内庁

The press asked about marriage thoughts again... no changes since response from coming-of-age press conference 2 years ago.

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Although part-time, Princess Aiko went to work every day the first week because she's in training. The agency reports Aiko will visit Meiji Jingu on the morning of April 10 to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Empress Shoken's death.

Sources: TBS, NTV

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Princess Aiko begins 1st day of work at Japanese Red Cross Society - Kyodo News

... The princess was one of eight new employees to start their jobs at the headquarters on Monday...

"While my days as a working member of society have just begun, I will endeavor to adjust quickly to the workplace and be of assistance," she said, adding that her parents had wished her luck..

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Princess Aiko, Daughter of Emperor, Empress, Begins Working for Japanese Red Cross Society - The Japan News

“It was a sobering feeling that I had taken my first step as a member of society,” the 22-year-old princess, dressed in a navy blue suit...

The princess has been assigned to the youth and volunteer division of the JRCS.

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Longer videos of Mie and Nara visit

Princess Aiko visited Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo today, April 10, to mark the 110th anniversary of the death of the wife of former emperor Meiji, former empress dowager Shoken who died on April 9, 1914:


** gettyimages gallery **

Thanks! More galleries: FNN, TV-Asahi, Mainichi

Princess Aiko Visits Meiji Jingu Shrine for 1st Time; Offers Sacred Branch While Wearing Long White Dress, Hat - The Japan News

... Princess Aiko took the day off from the Japanese Red Cross Society, which she joined on April 1.

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According to NTV, Princess Aiko only took the morning off to visit Meiji Jingu and went to work in the afternoon.

Empress Masako's family visited the Imperial residence on April 10 to celebrate Princess Aiko's university and job milestones. Yumiko and Hisashi Owada, younger sister Reiko Ikeda and others visited the Imperial residence for dinner, staying about 2 hours.

Source/video: TBS

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Princess Aiko will attend the spring gagaku concert on the morning of April 14. This is a solo appearance. She has attended gagaku concerts with Princess Kako or Emperor Naruhito.

Source: NTV

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On April 11th, Princess Aiko visited the Emeritus couple to report her university graduation and new job. Wearing a pale green outfit, she arrived at Akasaka Estate around 4pm.

This greeting was originally scheduled for March 20, immediately after the graduation ceremony but Aiko had caught a cold recently. It was decided to postpone to prevent infection.

Photos, source: FNN, NTV, Kyodo


On April 14th, Princess Aiko attended the spring Gagaku (Japanese Imperial Court Music and Dance) concert at the Imperial Household Music Department in the Imperial Palace.

Photos: FNN, Mainichi, AP Images

English articles and subtitled video of spring gagaku concert

Princess Aiko Attends Gagaku Court Music Concert; Princess Reportedly Enjoyed Concert Greatly - The Japan News

Among the six gagaku pieces performed at the concert was “Shikite,” which involves dancers removing their right sleeves at the shoulder. The princess occasionally put on her glasses as she watched the performance. According to the staff who accompanied her, the princess said she enjoyed the concert very much.

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Japanese Princess Aiko Watches Court Music Performance | Nippon.com

Some details on Princess Aiko's job at the Japanese Red Cross Society's Youth and Volunteer division:

• edit information magazines about Red Cross volunteer corps
• organize training sessions for volunteers (individual and group activities)

She is working with senior staff as well as her newly hired colleagues, and is doing well. Although a part-time/fixed term employee, close aides say Aiko is currently going to work daily. She may be able to work from home in the future, balancing JRCS job and public duties as an Imperial family member.

Sources: NTV, FNN

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Princess Aiko will make her garden party debut on April 23, joining other Imperial family members at the spring garden party in Akasaka Estate.

Sources: Asahi, NTV, TBS

On April 25th, Princess Aiko visited the mausoleums of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun at Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, Tokyo. She reported her university graduation and Japanese Red Cross Society employment.

Photos: Getty Images, FNN, Asahi, Mainichi



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English subtitled videos about Aiko's job and cherry trees planted for her birth

Princess Aiko will visit the spring special exhibition “Dreaming Hikaru Genji — Reading Heian literature diagonally at the archives!” at the National Archives in Chiyoda, Tokyo on May 11. This will be Princess Aiko’s first solo public engagement. The National Archives requested the princess’ visit.

Sources: NTV, Asahi

I thought Princess Aiko's first solo public engagement happened during her visit to Mie and Nara but it appears only events requested by an organizer are deemed "public activities." So... the museum and cultural facility visits in Mie and gagaku activities are private / personal interest / unofficial appearances.

On May 11th, Princess Aiko visited the Heian literature special exhibition "Dreaming Hikaru Genji" at the National Archives of Japan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Photos: Asahi, FNN, Sankei, AP images

Princess Aiko Visits Heian Literature Exhibition | Nippon

[...] The "Dreaming Hikaru Genji" exhibition introduces Heian literature and its commentaries under the theme of dreams.

Princess Aiko looked at a rare commentary written during the Edo period (1603-1867) on The Tale of Genji from the Heian period and asked, "How many years did it take to complete this?"

She put on her glasses along the way and eagerly looked around at the exhibited materials written about dreams.

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Princess Aiko Visits Exhibition as Her 1st Solo Official Duty; Observes Ancient Literary Manuscripts - The Japan News

Princess Aiko studied classical literature at university. The current exhibition has 39 items on display, including literary manuscripts from about 1,000 years ago.

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Princess Aiko will visit Shika Town and Nanao City in Ishikawa Prefecture September 28-29 to inspect recovery since the Noto earthquake. Ishikawa Prefecture invited the princess and this will be her first solo regional visit. Aiko's visit to Ise Grand Shrine (Mie Prefecture) in March was private.

9/28:

• travel by Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station, then car to Shika
• reconstruction briefing at Ishikawa Prefectural Office
• visit temporary shopping district at Roadside Station Togi Umikaidō
• meet former volunteers and local supporters at Shika Town Office Togi Branch
• stay overnight in Kanazawa City

9/29:

• watch final of Noto Wakura International Women's Open Tennis Tournament at Wakura Onsen in Nanao. The tournament was established to support recovery after the 2007 Noto earthquake
• meet managers of inns and other businesses at Nanao City Wakura Onsen Festival Hall about reconstruction progress
• visit exhibition facility to learn about efforts to hold local festivals again
• return to Tokyo in the evening

Sources: NTV, Sankei, TBS, Jiji, TV-Asahi, Asahi

Princess Aiko's visit to Ishikawa Prefecture will be canceled due to extensive damage caused by heavy rains that began in the Noto region on September 21. She is deeply saddened by the casualties and damage. Aiko decided to cancel her planned September 28-29 visit in consideration of the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. The Imperial Household Agency also consulted with the Ishikawa Prefecture.

Source: Sankei, FNN, NTV

However, she is scheduled to visit Saga Prefecture October 11-12 for the 78th National Sports Festival. Saga will now be her first solo regional visit.

• October 11: fly to Saga, watch track & field events at Saga Stadium, visit Saga Castle History Museum
• October 12: judo at Saga Arena, visit Saga Prefecture Red Cross Blood Center and Nao handmade washi paper workshop, fly back to Tokyo

Sources: Sankei, Jiji, sagatv.co.jp, TBS

Prisma said:

[...] However, she is scheduled to visit Saga Prefecture October 11-12 for the 78th National Sports Festival. Saga will now be her first solo regional visit.

• October 11: fly to Saga, watch track & field events at Saga Stadium, visit Saga Castle History Museum
• October 12: judo at Saga Arena, visit Saga Prefecture Red Cross Blood Center and Nao handmade washi paper workshop, fly back to Tokyo

Sources: Sankei, Jiji, sagatv.co.jp, TBS

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Early photos of October 11:

• Mainichi, Getty Images, AP Images
• FNN1, FNN2- travel from Tokyo, arrival at Saga Airport, meeting governor and welcome from kindergarteners at Prefectural government office
• FNN3 - tour Saga Castle History Museum and watch skit based on Sano Tsunetami, statesman and founder of the Japanese Red Cross Society

Princess Aiko's visit to Saga Prefecture on October 12 for 78th National Sports Festival:

• first round of men's judo with commentary from Takahiro Nishida, Vice President of the All Japan Judo Federation, at Saga Area
• Prefectural Red Cross Blood Donation Center where she was briefed on:
  • Donation activities and concerns. Fewer young people are donating blood.
  • Disaster prevention, response and coordination with private organizations
• Aiko also met university students who had just donated blood
• Nao washi paper workshop. She also tried making paper after a tour and learning about the workshop's history. It had been damaged in the heavy rains of 2021 and reopened in 2023.

Photos: Getty Images, Asahi, Mainichi, FNN


Longer Day 1-2 videos