Prince Akishino & Princess Kiko: Current Events part 1

[Marengo]

Thanks Mandy! She seems to be an intelligent lady, and a socially commited one.
I was a bit surprised that the IHA had to give permission for the prince to 'start a family' (according to wikipedia), buit then again, in Europe most goverments have to aprove the marriage of a prince(ss) as well.

[mandyy]

Prince and Princess Akishino performed their first duties together on Feb. 11, 2006 after the announment of the pregnancy. They attended an event which promotes environmental education in schools.
(Video links expires soon)
#1: NHK news
#2: ANN news video- http://meta.cdn.yahoo-streaming.jp/c...1&media=wm300k
#3: JIJI press
#4-5: Reuters
#4: Japanese Princess Kiko (R) and her husband Prince Akishino clap during an assembly in Tokyo February 11, 2006.
#5: Japanese Princess Kiko (R) and her husband Prince Akishino leave an all-Japan school assembly in Tokyo February 11, 2006.
#6: Mainichi news
FNN news video- http://meta.cdn.yahoo-streaming.jp/c...1&media=wm300k
NNN news video- http://meta.cdn.yahoo-streaming.jp/c...0&media=wm300k

[Laviollette]

It's funny that Princess Kiko is suddenly the center of worldwide attention because I've been a fan of hers for years. For one thing she's just exquisite, and she has carried herself in the most dignified and graceful way without complaining. I'm sure she finds the IHA just as stifling sometimes too. But she's hung in there - going about her royal duties with such grace and calm as we have seen this past week. I wish her well during her pregnancy and that she has a healthy baby. Btw, I'm new to the RF. I've been browsing for some time but this is my first post.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

It's funny that Princess Kiko is suddenly the center of worldwide attention because I've been a fan of hers for years...Btw I'm new to the RF. I've been browsing for some time but this is my first post.

Welcome to the Forums Laviollette. I think Princess Kiko will be quite the star this year! :)

[royfor]

Hello, I am new here so hello all.
I must say I am princess Masako's fan but looking back to princess Kiko's photo as a joung girl , I think Kiko is a tiny bit cuter than Masako.

[galuhcandrakirana]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

It's funny that Princess Kiko is suddenly the center of worldwide attention because I've been a fan of hers for years. For one thing she's just exquisite, and she has carried herself in the most dignified and graceful way without complaining. I'm sure she finds the IHA just as stifling sometimes too. But she's hung in there - going about her royal duties with such grace and calm as we have seen this past week. I wish her well during her pregnancy and that she has a healthy baby. Btw, I'm new to the RF. I've been browsing for some time but this is my first post.

I don't know much about princess Kiko but I think the one who survive under IHA could be a woman with "quiet" traditional vision on princess life/duty or at least she can accept the most of it without having much contradiction in her mind. I heard the Empress herself got depressed after joining the imperial family:(. I guess it is a difficult life for princesses who onces time was commoner and "a used to have more freedom in their life".

[Eliza]

It always amazes me that both the Empress and Crown Princess have had medical disorders due to the pressure and strain of life in the Imperial Family but Pss Kiko has almost escape - i mean she's the only Pss who is a commoner, married into the Family and is alright.

Perhaps it's got to do with the fact that she's married to the second born son and have less pressure or expectation or perhaps as said by galuhcandrakirana, she's a traditional person who can better accept that life?

[tlklhm]

Hi I am new here too.

Maybe she's able to adapt better because she married Prince Akishino when she's young and fresh from school, ulike CPss Masako, who used to be a jet-set diplomat and reluctantly gave up her career upon her engagement. And if I remember correctly, Pss Kiko studies Psychology, so maybe she can managed her emotion better?

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino visiting Toyama Prefecuture on Feb. 15, 2006.

#1: Kyodo news
#2: Asahi news
#3: Chunichi Web Press
#4: The Toyama Shimbun
#5: Kitanippon Shimbun

[susannem]

Hi, I'm new here as well.

I wish Princess Kiko all the best with her pregnancy, but I can't help but feel bad for Princess Masako.

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by susannem

Hi, I'm new here as well.

I wish Princess Kiko all the best with her pregnancy, but I can't help but feel bad for Princess Masako.

Welcome! Great group of people who can give you much imformation on most anything you want to know about so many royal families. And you're not alone in feeling bad for Masako.

[Emily]

Mandyy -- It seems to me that Akishino, especially, and Kiko to an extent, have stepped up their public engagements in the last couple of months. Is this accurate or are you just posting more photos of them? If it is true that they have stepped up the number of engagements, what is that about?

[mandyy]

Originally Posted by Emily

Mandyy -- It seems to me that Akishino, especially, and Kiko to an extent, have stepped up their public engagements in the last couple of months. Is this accurate or are you just posting more photos of them? If it is true that they have stepped up the number of engagements, what is that about?

There wasn't an increase in the # of their engagements. I think that there's just more coverage on this couple. They are usually very busy with their engagements, now that Princess Kiko's pregnancy was announced, more focus is put on this couple than the past.

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino visited The Toyama Family Park in the city of Toyama on Feb. 16, 2006.

#1: Yomiuri news
#2: Kitanippo Shimbun

[Emily]

Are they usually busy with engagements? I didn't realize that. I guess the lack of press coverage has often made me wonder just what they do inside the royal compound all day long! I thought they were only out and about a dozen times a year or so but I guess I am wrong.

Any new news on the pregnancy? I did see one short TV clip of a woman who was not too sympathetic over the traditionalists not changing from an "emperor" to an "empress" and I thought that, together with the Japan Times article at least let me know there was some dissent in Japan. IMO, it's too bad there isn't more.

[mandyy]

<p>

Originally Posted by Emily

Are they usually busy with engagements? I didn't realize that. I guess the lack of press coverage has often made me wonder just what they do inside the royal compound all day long! I thought they were only out and about a dozen times a year or so but I guess I am wrong. </p>
<p>&nbsp;
Any new news on the pregnancy? I did see one short TV clip of a woman who was not too sympathetic over the traditionalists not changing from an &quot;emperor&quot; to an &quot;empress&quot; and I thought that, together with the Japan Times article at least let me know there was some dissent in Japan. IMO, it's too bad there isn't more.

From their schedule in Jan., they only had 11 days without having to perform any official duty. As you can see that they are quite busy. Sometimes, they even have to work on their birthdays.
Not much news about the pregnancy. But the Kunaicho are going to officially announced Princess Kiko's pregnancy in late Feb. after doctors have performed extensive tests to confirm her pregnancy. Kunaicho previously only announced on Feb. 8 that she was showing signs of pregnancy.

[Emily]

Wow! They work much more than I had realized -- they are busy. Thank you for that information. Is Naruhito just as busy? And does Masako do more than the press reports or is she generally at home more? Also, just an opinion question -- how did you think she looked in the recent photos viewing the Bonsai with Naruhito? I thought she looked genuinely happy but am curious to hear from you since you follow them more closely than I.

[mandyy]

Sorry but it was 11 days not 8, my mistake.

[Emily]

Also, Mandyy, if you don't mind answering -- do you know much about the personalities of the two princes, Akishino and Naruhito? Is Naruhito more of a leader? Is he very bright?

[mandyy]

Prince Akishino, the second son of the Emperor Akihito arrives at a hotel upon his arrival in Gunma Prefecture on February 18, 2006 in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. He is on a 3 day trip to Gunma Prefecture visiting places including local schools and Oze National Sports Festival.

From getty images