Japanese Imperial Family Today

  Kei Komuro, 30, the husband of ex-princess Mako, who retook the bar exam this month, has a serious "visa problem" and is consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   Tightrope-walk-like Stay in NY   According to a Japanese government official.   "Mr. Komuro has approached Japan's MOFA for advice on his visa."   　 If he already has a work visa, there should be no need to consult with MOFA. However,   “If he already has a working visa, there is no need to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but I think it is very likely that he is still on a student visa (F-1). He is probably still on a student visa and is using the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program.”   Said Mr. Ricky Tokunaga.   The OPT program is available to graduates of American universities and graduate schools. It's like a one-year work permit, and it's common to get a work visa after the OPT period is used up, and many international students wh

  The eldest daughter of the Akishino family, Mako Komuro (30), and her husband Kei Komuro (30), who began their newlywed life in New York last November, are believed to have re-taken the New York State bar exam on February 22 and 23. The Daily Mail caught up with Kei Komuro on February 22 as he left the exam venue.   With his long hair pulled into a ponytail,  Komuro holds a red smartphone in his right hand, waiting for an Uber cab. He walks with wrinkles between his eyes. Mr. Komuro got into the Uber taxi and headed for his home in Hell's Kitchen, where he and Mako live.   On the first day of the exam, there are six essays and other in-depth questions, and on the second day, there are 200 multiple-choice questions that require speed in answering. If you get 266 points out of 400 points, you will pass the exam.   Komuro graduated from Fordham University School of Law in New York City last May and took the local bar exam in July. He married Ms. Mako on October 26, but

  On 50th Anniversary of Okinawa's Return to Mainland Japan, Princess Aiko and Prince Hisahito The parent article is here .   Press: This year marks the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to the mainland. Your Majesty have made a number of visits and have continued to interact with the "small reporters".Please tell us about your memories of Okinawa and your thoughts on the history and people of Okinawa, which suffered a great deal of damage in the last World War.   Emperor: Since I was a child, I have heard many things about Okinawa from Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who have deep feelings for Okinawa. My relationship with Okinawa as a child was based on my interactions with the Okinawan bean journalists in Karuizawa, where I spent every summer. It was a great opportunity for me as a child to learn about Okinawa. In the middle of the meeting, a student of the bean-counters demonstrated Okinawan karate forms, and I fondly remembered those days w

  On Mako Komuro and History of Imperial Family The parent article is here . Press: In October of last year, Mako Komuro, your niece, left the Imperial Family due to her marriage. What is His Majesty's perception of the unusual course of events, in which no lump-sum payment was made and no ceremony was held, and the impact on the Imperial Family? What are your thoughts on the weekly magazine reports and Internet postings that are said to have affected Mako's physical condition, as well as on the way the Imperial Family disseminates information?   Emperor: I have watched Princess Mako grow up as my niece and nephew since she was a small child, and after she reached adulthood, she was sincerely involved in various official activities until she left the Imperial Family through marriage last autumn.   Based on the circumstances leading up to the marriage, including the various opinions about the marriage, it was decided that the Noh-ai Ceremony and other ceremonies would

  About Empress and Princess Aiko The parent article is here . Press: Her Majesty the Empress has been attending to official duties with His Majesty while continuing her medical treatment. How is her recovery going? Your daughter, Princess Aiko, has turned 20. What did you think when you saw her at the coming-of-age events? Looking back over the past 20 years, please tell us about your most memorable memories, her current student life with its ongoing online classes, your hopes for the future, and your thoughts on her marriage as a father.   Emperor: Although it has been difficult for Masako to keep in shape due to the restrictions on her activities caused by the spread of the new coronavirus infection, she has been fortunate to be able to attend ceremonies in Tokyo, visit various places online, and give New Year's video messages together with us, while making various efforts. With regard to sericulture, last year we were able to engage in more work and I was happy to see tha

  Looking Back on the Past Year   See the parent article here .   　 In the past year, while the effects of the new coronavirus infection continued to be felt, there were various events such as the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the relocation of the Imperial Family to the Imperial Palace, and the U.S. birthday of the Emperor. Could you tell us about the events that left a deep impression on you? In a situation where opportunities for direct contact with the public are limited, what were your impressions of your online visits to various places, and what do you think about the future of your activities in With Corona and Post Corona?   Emperor: The past year has also seen a raging outbreak of a new coronavirus infection. I would like to express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their lives and my heartfelt sympathy to the many people who have lost family members, friends and other loved ones. My heart aches for the many people who have lost their jobs, fallen i

  On the 23rd, His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito celebrated his 62nd birthday, and celebratory events were held at the Imperial Palace.   On the morning of the 23rd, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attended the "Ceremony of Congratulation" to celebrate the Emperor's birthday at the Imperial Palace. The ceremony started at 11:00 a.m. and was attended by Prime Minister Kishida, the heads of the three branches of government, and representatives of foreign ambassadors. After expressing his gratitude for the celebration, His Majesty said, "I wish for the happiness of the people and the development of the country, and I also wish the heads of state of friendly countries good health and happiness for the people.   According to officials, on the 22nd, His Majesty conveyed his sympathy to Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, who was infected with the new coronavirus at the age of 95.   On the 23rd, the Emperor's birthday celebrations and events involv

  A new allegation has surfaced against Hisahito, the eldest son of the Akishino family, who was announced to have "allegedly" entered a high school attached to Tsukuba University on March 16. It is said that his essay, which he entered in a contest in the past and received an "honorable mention," is very similar to other works. On February 16, "Daily Shincho" reported the story.   In the past, His Imperial Highness has been known for his "excellent grades," and the Imperial Household Agency has taken great pains to appeal to his "literary talent," as he was twice selected for essay contests in junior high school. Last spring, out of a total of 97 entries in the junior high school division of the 12th Children's Nonfiction Literature Award sponsored by the city of Kitakyushu, Prince Hisahito's essay was selected as the honorable mention following the grand prize. The subject of the essay was his memories of the Ogasawara

    On February 16, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Prince Hisahito, the only son of the Akishino family and second in line of succession to the throne, will enroll in the National High School Attached to Tsukuba University (Tsukufu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) in April using the "Affiliated School Admission System. Prince Hisahito is in the third year of junior high school at Ochanomizu University. Since Ochanomizu High School is an all-girls school, there has been a lot of attention on where he will go.   Both the University of Tsukuba and Ochanomizu Women's University have established a system that allows students who are recommended by both universities to enter their respective affiliated schools. According to the IHA, Prince Hisahito took advantage of this system “because his academic performance was excellent and he met the conditions for recommendation.” In addition to the internal selection process, he took the five-subject "academic achievement test&quo

  On February 13, the only son of the Akishino family, Prince Hisahito, who had been attracting a lot of attention for where he would go to school, took the entrance examination for Tsukuba University High School (Tsukufu). At a little after 8:00 a.m., when the clouds were low and heavy and the weather was bitterly cold, he passed through the main gate of Chikuzuke High School like all the other examinees.   The exam starts at 9:00 a.m. Hisahito will take exams in five subjects: Japanese, mathematics, English, science, and social studies.   Recently, the head of household of Crown Prince, the closest aide to the Akishino family, has been complaining about the media coverage of Hisahito's entrance into high school, saying, "How is the attitude of the media to report every week on the entrance into high school of a minor who is about to take an entrance exam, based on speculation?” Today, TBS, one of Japanese commercial TV station, broke the news of Hisahito's entr

    With regard to a stable succession to the throne, attention has been focused on the return to the Imperial Register of the former members of the Imperial Family who were deposed in 1947 after World War II. It is likely that they will have an opportunity to meet each other within the next few years.   At a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives on February 7, the government revealed that the Kikuei Fellowship, which consists of relatives of the Imperial Family, meets about once every five years. The most recent meeting was held on May 18, 2014, at the Higashi Residence in Akasaka Imperial Villa. He answered a question from Fumitake Fujita, Secretary General of the Japan Restoration Association.   The Kikuei Fellowship is a voluntary organization run by members of the IF and the 11 former IF members who left the Imperial Resister in October 1947, and the last time it was held was to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Emperor.   Mr. Fujita also

  Kei Komuro, the husband of former Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family, will re-take the NY State Bar Exam on February 22 and 23. He failed to pass the bar exam immediately after graduation from Fordham University School of Law in July last time, and this time he will try for the second time while working as a "law clerk" at a law firm. The Imperial Household Agency, the government agency with jurisdiction over Japan's Imperial Family, is watching the results closely. The Daily Shincho reported on February 7 that the likelihood of her passing the exam is not very high in their eyes and that they are simulating the possibility of her failing the exam.   According to the story,   The bar examinations in New York State are usually held in February and July, and the passing rate for the July 2021 examination, which Kei took, was about 63%, while that for the February 2021 examination about 49%. If you complete law school in May, you can co

  The abstract of this article is as follows:   -The Japanese Imperial Family is the oldest royal family in the world, and therefore the most prestigious royal family in the world.(laughs) -The Emperor/imperial family is recognized for its value in leaving behind a person who will carry on the tradition. (Therefore, the succession to the throne by male lineal descendants should be preserved.) (And therefore the return of male lineal descendants of the former IF to the IF is justified.)   Note: The blogger does not agree with the above.   Recently, "return of former members of IF to IF" has become a keyword in this blog. Although I am not in favor of this idea, the Japanese government, with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as the governing party, seems to be moving in that direction. Since there is only one direct successor to the throne, Prince Hisahito, it is said that the return of the former members of IF to the Imperial Household is essential to