Princess Aiko Turns 20: "I want to help Their Majesties as much as I can."





　On December 1, Her Imperial Highness Princess Toshinomiya Aiko, the only daughter of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, celebrated her 20th birthday and became an adult member of the Imperial Family. Through the Imperial Household Agency, she announced her impressions, saying, "I would like to face each of my duties with sincerity and help Their Majesties as much as I can.” This is the first time in 32 years that an emperor's daughter has come of age since Sayako Kuroda. The public's expectations for Princess Aiko as an adult member of the Imperial Family are increasing due to the decreasing and aging number of members of the IF and public support for a female emperor or emperors of female line.

(Full text of her impressions is here)

 

Her impressions of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress were, "They have raised me lovingly and carefully, and have supported me most closely at all times," and she also expressed her gratitude to the Emperor and Empress Emeritus. Reflecting on her encounters to date, she thanked the people of Japan, writing: "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Japan who have watched over my growth and given me their warm support.”

 

Regarding her future, she wrote: "I would like to improve myself and grow into an adult who can be of use to others, step by step. Concerned about the people under the new Corona, she concluded, "I am looking forward to the day when I will be able to meet and talk with you. Some intellectuals commented on the letter, saying that it conveyed her readiness to take charge of the Imperial Family.

 

Princess Aiko is a second-year student at Gakushuin University, and because of her academic priorities, the main celebrations for her coming of age will be held on the 5th, a holiday. The press conference for her coming of age will be held in mid-March next year during her spring break. The purpose of the press conference is to organize her thoughts in preparation for the conference. Her first official duty is expected to be the New Year's celebration at the palace on the first day of next year.

 

At the Department of Japanese Language and Literature in the Faculty of Letters, where Princess Aiko is enrolled, she reads literature from the Heian period (794-1185) to the modern age, and also studies traditional performing arts, Japanese history, and English. When working on assignments and exercises, she sometimes exchanges opinions with Their Majesties. At the palace, Their Majesties explained the events and manners in which they will participate as adult members of the Imperial Family.

 

　With the coming of age of Princess Aiko, the eldest son of the Akishino family, Hisahito (15), is the only minor member of the IF.  At a meeting of the government's expert panel held on March 30 to discuss measures for a stable succession to the throne, the secretariat of the government suggested that it would be "appropriate to make it a permanent system" for female members of the Imperial Family to maintain the Imperial Register after their marriage. It is believed that the government has in mind a revision of the Imperial Household Law. As the debate continues on what could be a major turning point for the imperial family system, Princess Aiko will continue to seek activities as an adult member of the Imperial Family.

 

 

Professor Emeritus Yuji Odabe, Shizuoka University of Social Welfare (Modern Japanese History) said:

“Although the content of Princess Aiko's letter is brief, it expresses her gratitude to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, the Emperor and Empress Emeritus, and those who have taken care of her, and shows her awareness as an adult member of the Imperial Family. She also carefully expresses her concern for the people of Japan who are in a difficult situation due to the new coronavirus. Her determination to carry on the role of the IF, which is close to the people, came across naturally. The number of people in charge of the IF is decreasing due to the aging of the population and the departure of the IF following marriage. I hope that she will play an active role in the official duties she has inherited after the current official duties are reorganized.” 
場所: Japan

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