Imperial Family of Japan Current Events Part 3: May 2017 -


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The private 60th Imperial Household Agency Staff Cultural Festival opens December 14-16th and features the Imperial family's poetry, photography, crafts, etc.

Photos at Asahi and explanations below:
1. Princess Aiko created a herbarium titled "Summer in Suzaki, Autumn in Akasaka," where shells are from Suzaki Imperial Villa and plants are from the East Palace and Akasaka Estate.
2. Prince Hisahito made additions to the model of a traditional home from last year. With help from family and staff, it now has a well, chicken coop, vegetable garden, and a persimmon tree.
3. Close up of the well
4. Close up of the chicken coop
5. Emperor Akihito submitted poetry
6. Empress Michiko submitted poetry
7. The Imperial couple's submissions are exhibited together
8. Empress Michiko's art submission. (Not sure about this one; it looks like she created frames for photographs?)
9. CP Naruhito and CP Masako submitted photography of Yatsugatake mountain range and Nasu Animal Kingdom.
10. Prince Akishino submitted nature photography
11. Princess Kiko's photography of nature
12. Princess Hisako's photo of beanie babies around a clay model computer
13. Princess Nobuko's photos of dog and flowers
14. Princess Akiko submitted a piece titled "A color gradient" of gold cloths
15. Photo of the exhibition
 
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Emperor Akihito invited about 40 members of government to luncheon at the Imperial Palace on December 21st. CP Naruhito also attended the annual year end lunch. [Asahi]

Getty Images
 
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2018's Imperial New Year Poetry Reading (Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime) is scheduled for January 12th. On December 26th, the IHA announced 10 poems from the general public to be recited along with poems from the Imperial family, poem selection committee, and invited guests. There were 24,553 qualified entries on the theme "Word" with 159 submissions from 21 countries and regions including the United States, Brazil, and China; 24 entries were in Braille.

Yuki Nakajima, a 12 year old junior high school student from Nagasaki Prefecture, is the youngest winner since the end of WWII. Writing poetry was a summer break homework and a teacher submitted in bulk. Atsuko Suzuki, an 82 year old essayist, residing in California, USA is the oldest winner. She began writing poems for 32 years ago and is very happy to have arrived as poet. Her submission described the limits of communicating subtleties and delicate feelings between herself in Japanese and 4 children raised in English. Other winners include housewives, corporate employees, a nurse, and a private high school student.

The Emperor invited 85 year old author Kuroi Senji (pen name of Osabe Shunjirō) to write poetry for the ceremony.
Sources: Asahi, Sankei, Jiji, Yomiuri


Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted the annual year end family luncheon at the Imperial Palace on December 27th. Besides Imperial family members, over 30 former members and relatives attended.

Videos: news24.jp

CP Naruhito and CP Masako:
Princess Mako, Prince Akishino, and Princess Kiko:
 
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Imperial family photos/video for New Year 2018 and Year-end 2017 Waka Poems by Their Majesties. They are looking at crafts made in the Meiji and Taisho eras. [Sankei]

Asahi gallery

Recent Portraits of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and Their Family on the occasion of New Year (2018) - The Imperial Household Agency

Year-end Waka Poems : 2017 - The Imperial Household Agency

For 2018, the Emperor and Empress will attend the National Tree Festival in Fukushima Prefecture in June, the National Sports Festival in Fukui Prefecture in September, and the National Sea Enrichment Festival in Kochi Prefecture in October.

The CP couple will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in June and Princess Mako will marry on November 4th.
ETA: Photos and video were taken on November 4 according to www.afpbb.com

ETA: English Mainichi has video captions

2018 New Year's greeting ceremonies on January 1st.

Asahi gallery (updated with CP family's arrival)
 
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The Crown Princess hasn't attended the New Year's Court for many years, due to her illness. But there might still be pictures of her arriving at the palace in the car.
 
There are photos of CP Masako in the car in the Asahi gallery I posted above.

She attends the private family greeting, not the public greetings for government officials and diplomats.

Another ANN clip shows Masako and family arriving at the Imperial Palace:
 
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New Year's greetings with the general public on January 2nd.

Asahi, Mainichi, Getty Images galleries

Jiji reports CP Naruhito or Prince Akishino may visit Spain and Sweden this year as both countries celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations with Japan in 2018.

Imperial family greet well wishers - News - NHK WORLD - English
[...]

The Emperor said he is extremely pleased that he can celebrate the New Year with the public. He expressed hope that this year will be a calm and spiritually rich year for as many people as possible. He said he prays for the happiness of people of Japan and around the world.

[...]

The Imperial Household Agency officials say that more than 62,000 people visited the palace by 11:30 AM.
They say the total figure for the day is likely to be the largest since 1994.

[...]
Click to expand...

Japan Emperor greets cheering crowd at palace for new year - The Mainichi
 
More of the Takamado princesses on January 2nd:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...0dc3edcbd7bbd1a3e2fcdcb2f9ef67548127b0cec.png
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...985990ac002a3e6a3e1d3bec3d9db1dacb9644ef8.png
https://twitter.com/x/status/948515895722192896

Princess Yuriko only attended the first balcony appearance, supported by Princess Nobuko. [Sankei Imperial Weekly #520]

In the evening, the CP and Akishino families had dinner with the Emperor and Empress.
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180106/lif1801060002-p26.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180106/lif1801060002-p27.jpg

Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Aiko and Crown Princess Masako wave... News Photo | Getty Images
Prince Hisahito, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Akishino are... News Photo | Getty Images

Huge crowds turn up for New Year greetings at Imperial Palace: The Asahi Shimbun
[…]

“Happy New Year, I am truly delighted to be able to celebrate the New Year with you,” said Akihito, addressing the crowd by microphone from the balcony. “I hope that this year will turn out to be a calming and enriching year for all of you. I also wish happiness for people in Japan and the rest of the world.”

According to the Imperial Household Agency, 126,720 well-wishers gathered for the five appearances by the imperial family, the largest turnout for New Year's greetings during the Heisei Era, as Akihito's reign is known.

[…]
Click to expand...

On January 3rd, members of the Imperial family attended Genshisai, a ceremony that "celebrates the headquarters and origin of the Imperial Throne at the start of the new year. The prosperity of the nation and the people are also prayed for at the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries."

List of main ritual ceremonies of the Imperial Palace - The Imperial Household Agency

CP Naruhito arrival and departure:
Princesses Hisako, Ayako, Yoko, Akiko, Nobuko, Mako, and Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko:
 
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Members of the Imperial family attended New Year's Lectures (Ceremony of the Kousho Hajime) on January 10th. CP Masako attended for the first time in 15 years. This year's lectures included:
- Kazui Tashiro, Professor Emeritus of Keio University, "Japan and Korea Trade in the Edo Period as seen from Tsushima Souza"
- Naoyuki Osaka, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University's temporal memory function, "Working memory to conscious consciousness"
- Akira Fujishima, President of Tokyo University of Science, "Solar energy and photocatalyst"

The lectures lasted nearly an hour. [NHK]

Photos: Asahi, Sankei
 
:previous: It is a pleasant tradition. I wonder who makes the choice of subjects and lecturers?

Prisma said:
The private 60th Imperial Household Agency Staff Cultural Festival opens December 14-16th and features the Imperial family's poetry, photography, crafts, etc.

Photos at Asahi and explanations below:
1. Princess Aiko created a herbarium titled "Summer in Suzaki, Autumn in Akasaka," where shells are from Suzaki Imperial Villa and plants are from the East Palace and Akasaka Estate.
2. Prince Hisahito made additions to the model of a traditional home from last year. With help from family and staff, it now has a well, chicken coop, vegetable garden, and a persimmon tree.
3. Close up of the well
4. Close up of the chicken coop
5. Emperor Akihito submitted poetry
6. Empress Michiko submitted poetry
7. The Imperial couple's submissions are exhibited together
8. Empress Michiko's art submission. (Not sure about this one; it looks like she created frames for photographs?)
9. CP Naruhito and CP Masako submitted photography of Yatsugatake mountain range and Nasu Animal Kingdom.
10. Prince Akishino submitted nature photography
11. Princess Kiko's photography of nature
12. Princess Hisako's photo of beanie babies around a clay model computer
13. Princess Nobuko's photos of dog and flowers
14. Princess Akiko submitted a piece titled "A color gradient" of gold cloths
15. Photo of the exhibition
Click to expand...

The "model of a traditional home" is quite sophisticated. I suppose that young Hisahito had abundant assistance from the "family and staff". ;)

Not surprisingly, Princess Hisako's photograph is informal in contrast to the traditional and conforming artworks submitted by the higher ranking members of the imperial family.
 
.

Today, January 12, the Imperial family attended the Utakai-Hajime-no-Gi New Year's poetry reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace:



** gettyimages gallery **
 
This year's poetry theme is "Go" (Word). Next year's theme is "Hikari" (Light).

9 of the 10 poem winners attended the ceremony. Group photo:
https://www.jiji.com/news/photos/photo_news/images/658/0025890369.jpg

Waka Poems by Their Majesties and Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess, 2018 - The Imperial Household Agency

All poems at Sankei (warning: some google translations are odd)

Japan Times
[…]

According to the Imperial Household Agency the Crown Princess will not attend this year’s new year poetry reading ceremony, set to be held on Friday, as the length of the event and the required gestures could be a strain on her.
Click to expand...

New Year poetry reading held at Imperial Palace | Nippon TV NEWS24 JAPAN
 
On January 30th, members of the Imperial family attended Komei-Tenno-reisai at the Imperial Palace. The ceremony marks the anniversary of Emperor Komei's passing. Princess Akiko attended a similar ceremony at the Imperial mausoleum in Kyoto where Emperor Komei is buried. Some arrival and departure videos below.

CP Naruhito:
Princesses Yoko, Hisako, Ayako, and Nobuko:
ETA: some photos
https://twitter.com/x/status/958156515029917696
https://twitter.com/x/status/958157053914071040
 
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On February 2nd, members of the Imperial family visited the 67th Kanto Tokai Flower Exhibition held at the Sunshine City Cultural Center in Toshima, Tokyo.

http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180203/prm1802030022-p1.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180203/prm1802030022-p2.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180203/prm1802030022-p3.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180203/prm1802030022-p4.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/180203/prm1802030022-p5.jpg

From Sankei Imperial Weekly #524

News24.jp video of Prince Akishino's visit

ETA: FNN video includes Princesses Nobuko and Ayako

ETA: FNN screenshots
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...16cc6e9da726f198157abab378f388511b63c9a69.png
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...fb24febbef2738a425d30b32110cc7ee00f2006e2.png
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/image...4acf710f81d28f9229780f8c5f33a1faf5324614e.png
 
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On April 4th, the Imperial couple and Princess Hisako attended the 54th Suzuki Grand Concert at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo; the concert commemorates violinist Shinichi Suzuki's 120th birthday. 2000 children performed, including 50 from prefectures impacted by the 2011 earthquake.

Photos: Asahi, Sankei, Getty Images

About the Suzuki Method | Suzuki Association of the Americas
More than fifty years ago, Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki realized the implications of the fact that children the world over learn to speak their native language with ease. He began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, and called his method the mother-tongue approach. The ideas of parent responsibility, loving encouragement, constant repetition, etc., are some of the special features of the Suzuki approach.

[...]
Click to expand...
 
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The spring garden party will be held on April 25th. Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (Men's figuring skating), Olympic gold medalist Kodaira Nao (Women's 500m speed skating), professional Shoji player Yoshiharu Habu, and professional Go player Yuta Iyama are among the 2,500 guests invited.

Sources: Sankei, Mainichi
 
The Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, visited Japan April 10-13 and his agenda included audiences with members of the Imperial family.

Japanese Language and Judo Centres to be Established in Bhutan - New Bhutan Times - Know Bhutan
[…] Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay and his delegation arrived in Tokyo on April 10. While in Japan, Lyonchhen received an audience with His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito, the Prince and Princess of Akishino and Princess Mako.

[…]
Click to expand...
 
Prisma said:
IHA announced CP Masako will attend the garden party tomorrow. However, in consideration for her health, she will leave in the middle of the event as before.

Source:
https://twitter.com/x/status/988707577625112577
Click to expand...

I'm glad that she's going to be at the garden party, but the fact that she is still having to leave part way through makes me really question whether the week long trip proposed by Crown Prince Naruhito is a good idea.

On the plus side, I wonder if she'll at least make sure that she gets to speak to Yuzuru Hanyu so she can tell Princess Aiko about it? Princess Aiko is reportedly an admirer of Yuzuru Hanyu.
 
I agree. Perhaps she'll stay longer this year and that'll be progress. Since she returned to garden parties, Masako has gradually increased her time chatting with guests and comfortable enough to wear kimonos again. I don't know how long it takes to get through the receiving line. From short TV clips, it appears the royals only speak briefly to those in the front row.

If she doesn't speak to Yuzuru Hanyu at the garden party, then CP Naruhito can. I suspect Princess Kako wishes she could attend this year. She was a figure skater in primary school. She wasn't 20 yet for the garden party following the Sochi Winter Olympics and now she's studying aboard. There should be a tea party for Olympic and Paralympic athletes in the summer so that's another opportunity for Masako and Kako.

IHA is understandably tentative about Masako. Similar statements were made before Naruhito's solo trips to Malaysia and Denmark last year. I only see Masako going to France if she's limited to a few events in Paris.
 
I didn't know that she had increased her time chatting, that is definitely progress. I was very happy to see that she was wearing kimono again, since, as you mentioned, that seemed symbolic of her healing. Besides, the Imperial family has the most beautiful kimonos, and I love seeing them!

Yes, I will be watching developments with the trip to France with a lot of interest. I'm sure the IHA is treading a fine line, since Masako has things that she really has to participate in for the upcoming enthronement, and the IHA has to be worried about encouraging her to take on more, while running the risk that if they push too hard it may be another 10 years before we see her taking on any public roles at all.

I feel a lot of compassion for CP Masako.
 
The Imperial Family at the spring garden party hosted by the emperor in Tokyo on April 25

Belga Image
 
Thanks eya!

Asahi, Mainichi, Getty Images galleries

Princesses Mako and Kako cheered for Yuzuru Hanyu
https://twitter.com/x/status/989033442364002308

Asahi reporter Shima Yasuhiko's tweets:
- Hanyu told Princess Hisako he felt humble during the parade. He usually looks up at the audience at skating competitions/shows whereas he looked down from a van at the parade.
- Princess Nobuko thanked him for the parade in Sendai.
- Empress Michiko and CP Naruhito asked Hanyu about his ankle and rehabilitation.
- CP Masako left before reaching Hanyu and the other athletes.

Sources:
https://twitter.com/x/status/989021455940706304
https://twitter.com/x/status/989020082897485824
https://twitter.com/x/status/989016966613512197
https://twitter.com/x/status/989015507821973504
https://twitter.com/shimaykkkt/status/989013169724014592

Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) served at the garden party
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dbmcn6eVMAE18tR.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dbmd3I8U8AAkMQe.jpg

Hanyu meets imperial couple at garden party, talks of rehab: The Asahi Shimbun
[...]

Hanyu told Michiko and Naruhito how he is doing in a rehabilitation program after suffering an ankle injury.

When Princess Mako, a granddaughter of the emperor and empress, congratulated him for landing another gold after the Sochi Olympics four years earlier, Hanyu flashed a smile and said, “Thank you.”
Click to expand...
Imperial couple host spring garden party - News - NHK WORLD - English
[...]

The empress said she saw a large number of fans cheering him in a parade through his hometown, Sendai, on Sunday.

Hanyu said he was glad to donate the funds raised by his fans at the parade to help the reconstruction of his hometown and other areas hit by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

[...]

Shogi player Yoshiharu Habu received the People's Honor Award earlier this year for becoming the first lifetime holder of all major shogi titles.

When the emperor asked him whether a shogi match wears him out, Habu said he sometimes loses weight during a 2-day match.

[...]
Click to expand...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXzLEOzlNdw
 
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