Imperial Family of Japan: New and Photos II - Page 2

Lyonnaise · #21 03-07-2005, 04:56 AM

TOKYO - MARCH 7: Malaysian King Syed Sirajuddin (2nd L) salutes while listening to national anthems with Japanese Emperor Akihito (2nd R), Empress Michiko (R) and Malaysian Queen Fauziah (L) during his welcoming ceremony at the state guesthouse March 7, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toshifumi Kitamura-Pool/Getty Images)

pdas1201 · #22 03-07-2005, 06:46 AM

Emperor meets visiting Malaysian king

Monday, March 7, 2005 at 13:01 JST
TOKYO — Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met Malaysian King Syed Sirajuddin and Queen Fauziah on Monday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the Imperial Household Agency said.
The king told the emperor that Malaysia had leaned a lot from Japan, which helped it achieve today's level of development, and the emperor said he feels happy as he has heard bilateral cooperation helped with Malaysia's development, agency officials said

pdas1201 · #23 03-07-2005, 06:50 AM

Pics from Reuters and Kyodo News

HMQueenElizabethII · #24 03-07-2005, 08:06 AM

The State Dinner:

From AAP Image:

From Getty Images:

merampo · #25 03-07-2005, 10:56 AM

pictures from Yahoo

Lyonnaise · #26 03-09-2005, 04:53 AM

Malaysian King and Queen depart Japan- Gettyimages

tiaraprin · #27 03-09-2005, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monalisa

FEARS FOR MASSAKO AFTER NAGANO TRIP CANCELLED:

1 MARCH 2005

Hopes for the recovery of Japan's Crown Princess Masako were dealt a blow at the weekend after she cancelled a public appearance. The 41-year-old, who has been struggling with emotional difficulties for over a year, had been expected to attend the Special Olympics Winter Games in Nagano.

She cancelled the engagement just a day in advance, however. "It was unfortunate that I cannot go," said the princess. "I am sorry to trouble so many people." Her visit to the mountain city, where she spent a six-day break with her family just last month, was to be her first official trip outside Tokyo since November 2003.

The Imperial Household Agency has confirmed that ill-health was the reason for her cancellation, describing the royal's condition as "inappropriate" for attendance. The princess has been struggling with what minders describe as an "adjustment disorder" for the last 14 months.

Royal experts say the main source of her difficulties has been the intense pressure to provide a male heir. Plans for a constitutional amendment clearing the way for her daughter Aiko to accede to the throne are expected to get the green light, but it seems Masako is still not quite ready to return to public life.

I feel so awful for this poor woman!! She seems like such a kind lady and has been horribly treated by the courtiers. She turned down Naruhito many times before accepting his proposal for fear of life in a golden fishbowl. It is so sad that her worst nightmares came true. I hope Masako recovers and can make a fresh start in life with her husband and daughter.

Lyonnaise · #28 03-10-2005, 02:28 AM

Polfoto 10-03-2005 Japanese Prince Akishino, seated at center, the second son of Emperor Akihito, and his wife Princess Kiko participate in a memorial ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the 1945 U.S. air raid on Tokyo at a hall built for the 100,000 victims near the center of the damage zone in Tokyo Thursday, March 10, 2005. The devastating World War II assault killed some 100,000 people and reduced Tokyo to ashes. The March 9-10, 1945 raid has long been dwarfed in history by the U.S. nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But the Tokyo attack killed more people immediately than either atomic explosion, and is widely considered the most devastating air raid of history. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)

agisele · #29 03-14-2005, 09:59 AM

i love Empress Michiko's hat, it's really unique. >.<

merampo · #30 03-16-2005, 04:28 AM

>agisele
I also think so!They are like dishes...

Empress to skip duties for 2 days due to illness

TOKYO — Empress Michiko will skip duties on Wednesday and Thursday due to a skin infection around her mouth, but will attend the engagement ceremony for Princess Sayako on Saturday, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.
The agency added that she is recovering from the infection, but that she needs to take a rest to avoid fatigue. (Kyodo News)
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=1&id=330923

Picture
Princess Sayako is working at Yamashina Institute for Ornithology.
It is after an interval of 13 years that her office was open to the public.
(2005-3-16)

pdas1201 · #31 03-18-2005, 02:28 AM

March 17, 2005: Emperor Akihito met with Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr. Martin McAleese at the Imperial Palace. McAleese is on a six day visit to Japan.

pdas1201 · #32 03-18-2005, 02:34 AM

March 18, 2005: Emperor Akihito and Princess Sayako visit the Imperial Palace musuem.

By the way, Princess Sayako is getting engaged tomorrow.:)

HMQueenElizabethII · #33 03-18-2005, 03:11 AM

Thanks so much for photos.

agisele · #34 03-18-2005, 08:51 AM

actually she's already engaged. it's just that tomorrow will be the traditional japanese engagement ceremony. where the emperor and empress meet the groom's mother. (his father is deceased)

taken from www.hellomagazine.com

Masako to attend Sayako's Betrothal Ceremony

Despite having dropped out of at least one official engagement in recent weeks, it appears Crown Princess Masako will be attending the engagement ceremony of sister-in-law Princess Sayako on Saturday.

The Imperial Household has confirmed that Masako wishes to attend the ceremonial exchange of pre-wedding gifts, called Nosai no Gi, which is in honour of Sayako's betrothal to government employee Yoshiki Kuroda.

The private court affair, a formal sealing of the engagement, will see the groom's mother – his father is deceased – meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Though the empress skipped some of her official duties this week due to a fatigue-related skin virus, she is set to attend her only daughter's ceremony.

In late Feburary, it was the empress' daughter-in-law Masako who made headlines for health reasons. The 41-year-old, who has been struggling with emotional difficulties for over a year, cancelled a visit to Special Olympics Winter Games in Nagano at the last minute. The Imperial Household Agency confirmed that ill health was the reason for her cancellation, describing the royal's condition as "inappropriate" for attendance.

Masako has been recovering from an "adjustment disorder" brought on by the demands of her role, particularly the pressure to produce a male heir. Controversy over changing Imperial House Law in order to allow female members to ascend to the throne looks set to be resolved soon, however, as a government panel is expected to decide on the matter later this year.

HMQueenElizabethII · #35 03-18-2005, 05:09 PM

It's great.We will have lots of photos today.Will there be any Banquet or Party in honor of it?

pdas1201 · #36 03-19-2005, 12:44 AM

Princess Sayako formally engaged to Kuroda in traditional rite

Princess Sayako, Emperor Akihito's only daughter, was formally engaged to Yoshiki Kuroda, an employee with the Tokyo metropolitan government, in a traditional rite of betrothal at the Imperial Palace on Saturday. The princess, 35, popularly known as Princess Nori, and Kuroda, 39, are expected to be married sometime after the summer following a series of court rites, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

The special rite, called "Nosai no Gi" in Japanese, is the first in the series. In the privately held ceremony at the Imperial Residence, a messenger from Kuroda formally conveyed Kuroda's proposal to marry Princess Sayako and offered traditional engagement gifts of two fresh sea breams, three bottles of sake and two sets of silk, the agency said. Sea breams are given as gifts in Japan to mark auspicious events.

The couple became formally engaged when Grand Steward Toshio Yuasa of the Imperial Household told the messenger that the princess and her parents accepted the offer of marriage.

Kuroda's cousin, Naoyuki, 53, took the role as messenger.

The imperial family will also send its messenger to Kuroda's home in Tokyo
bearing another set of gifts, including two fresh sea breams, three bottles of sake and two sets of wool, while Princess Sayako will report her engagement to other members of her family and receive their congratulations.
The heads of three branches of government, senior agency officials and others will also visit and congratulate the princess.

In the afternoon, Kuroda and his mother Sumiko, 69, will visit the Imperial Residence for a meeting with Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and the princess. Kuroda's father is deceased.

The