Princess Aiko Leads the Female Members of the Imperial Family in Her First Official Duty: the New Year's Celebration Ceremony
On the 1st, His Majesty the Emperor, together with Her Majesty the Empress Masako, attended the New Year's Celebration Ceremony at the Imperial Palace to receive New Year's wishes from the Imperial Family and the heads of the three-party system.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Toshinomiya Aiko, the only daughter of Their Majesties, who turned 20 last December, also attended the ceremony for the first time. She entered following Their Majesties, wearing a robe décolleté and medals, in the Matsunoma room of the palace. This was Aiko's first official duty after her coming-of-age ceremony.
The ceremony began around 10 a.m. Their
Majesties were congratulated by the heads of the three branches of government,
following the members of the Imperial Family. In the Matsu-no-ma, His Majesty
was greeted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Speaker of
the House of Councillors, to which His Majesty responded, "At the
beginning of the New Year, I pray for the happiness of the people and the
development of the nation.” He was followed by greetings from the ambassadors
of various countries to Japan.
Due to the new coronavirus, the number of
attendees was greatly reduced, and the female members of the Imperial Family
refrained from wearing tiaras. Princess Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, did
not attend the ceremony because she was in mourning for her father, Tatsuhiko
Kawashima, who died in November of last year.
In the afternoon, Their Majesties and
Princess Aiko left the Imperial Palace together and visited the Sento Temporary
Palace, the residence of the Emperor and Empress Emeritus to greet the New
Year. Empress Masako and Princess Aiko wore hats and long dresses.
In addition, Prince Akishino, his second
daughter Kako, his only son Hisahito dressed in kimono, and other members of
the Imperial Family visited the Emperor Emeritus and his wife to give them New
Year's greetings.
The general New Year's visit to the
Imperial Palace, which usually takes place on the 2nd, will not take place as
it did last year.
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