TOKYO – Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, turned 24 on Monday after marking a year full of fresh experiences, including her first official overseas trip and tour to sites linked to World War II, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
Having accompanied her parents to Okinawa and the atomic bombed city of Nagasaki in the 80th anniversary year of the end of the war, the princess expressed deep respect “for the efforts to pass down to the next generation the history of hardship and resilience, and the value of peace,” the agency said.
In January, the princess, who has been interested in waka poetry since she was a student, was deeply moved after attending the annual New Year’s poetry reading at the Imperial Palace for the first time.
This was followed by her first attendance at a banquet at the palace in March, held in honor of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife during their visit to Japan as state guests.
The princess prepared for the event by practicing greetings in Portuguese and taking advice from her parents on etiquette and appropriate conversation, according to the agency.
She was also involved in her parents’ hosting of overseas royalty that visited Japan for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka and was pleased to have been able to interact with them in a relaxed atmosphere, the agency said.
In May, she traveled to Ishikawa Prefecture that was hit by an earthquake on New Year’s Day last year, in what became her first visit to a disaster-affected area in Japan. She noted that the opportunity to directly interact with those affected left a deep impression on her, and that she hopes to apply the experience to her work at the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Her visit to Laos in November, meanwhile, became a “priceless memory” as it allowed her to encounter the Southeast Asian nation’s history, culture and nature, the agency said.
In August, her family adopted a four-and-a-half-month-old rescue kitten — a female calico that she named “Mimi.” For the princess, spending time with the family’s cats, turtles, and other pets provides moments of peace and comfort.
On weekends, she enjoys strolling through the Imperial Palace grounds with her parents and playing volleyball, tennis and badminton with staff members.
BY: The Times Union – KYODO
