Polfoto 14-12-2004 In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski's wife, Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela, right, talks with Japanese Empress Michiko, left, during she and the prime minister's audience with Emperor Akihito and Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004. Saxcoburggotski, former Bulgarian king, arrived Monday for a five-day visit to Japan. The woman in the middle is an unidentified interpreter. (AP Photo/The Imperial Household Agency)
Imperial Family of Japan: News & Photos
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Princess Takamatsu, aunt of emperor, dies at 92
Saturday December 18, 11:58 AM
5TH LD: Princess Takamatsu, aunt of emperor, dies at 92
(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S COMMENTS IN 8TH-9TH GRAFS)
Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of Emperor Akihito and a grandchild of the last Tokugawa shogun, died early Saturday at age 92, the Imperial Household Agency said, adding it has postponed a plan to announce the engagement of Princess Sayako to a public servant.
Princess Takamatsu, also known as Princess Kikuko, died of blood poisoning at 4:24 a.m. at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, the agency said.
Following the princess's death, the agency said it has postponed an announcement scheduled for the day that Princess Sayako, 35, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito, will marry Yoshiki Kuroda, 39, a Tokyo metropolitan government employee, next year.
The agency released no rescheduling of the engagement announcement.
Escorted by police cars, a vehicle carrying Princess Takamatsu's body left the hospital as reporters and police officers gathered outside, and arrived at her home in Minato Ward later in the morning.
All members of the imperial family -- Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko and Princess Sayako -- later visited the home. A funeral is expected within 10 days.
Emperor Akihito and other imperial family members will go into mourning for five days beginning Saturday.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement saying, "I am extremely sad to hear the news of her death."
"The princess contributed greatly to wider areas of society, including medical fields," he said, referring to her devotion to finding a cure for cancer.
Princess Takamatsu underwent surgery in February to remove a lump from her left breast. She had been in and out of hospital since then.
She had been in the hospital since August, and on Oct. 18 she underwent another operation for dialysis.
While in the hospital, the princess was delighted on being informed of Princess Sayako's planned marriage, according to sources close to the imperial family.
Princess Takamatsu had been confined to bed but remained conscious, reading magazines and newspapers and sometimes eating ice cream until just recently, though she was fed by an intravenous drip.
Her condition suddenly worsened around 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the sources.
The princess was the widow of Prince Takamatsu, a younger brother of the late Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.
She had lived with agency employees at the prince's residence in Minato Ward since Prince Takamatsu died in February 1987.
The Takamatsu house came to an end because the couple had no children.
Born in December 1911, Princess Takamatsu was a grandchild of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate regime (1603-1868).
She married Prince Takamatsu, a son of Emperor Yoshihito, posthumously known as Emperor Taisho, at the age of 18 in 1930.
After World War II, she assumed honorary presidencies of groups including the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund and an association assisting leprosy patients.
In August 1999, she was hospitalized with a broken left femur. She also suffered from a duodenal ulcer and pneumonia but recovered and left the hospital in January 2000.
In May 2003, she underwent surgery for a broken right femur.
The agency had planned to have a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Imperial Palace to announce Princess Sayako's engagement with Kuroda. The couple is to marry next year.
Although Princess Sayako, popularly known as Princess Nori, and Kuroda still have several traditional ceremonies to go through before officially declaring their engagement, the couple was to appear together in public for the first time Saturday since media began reporting on their relationship last month.
The announcement of the engagement was originally slated for last month but was postponed out of consideration for the victims of major earthquakes in Niigata Prefecture in October, according to the agency.
Princess Sayako and Kuroda had also planned to meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for a greeting and have dinner with the imperial couple and Kuroda's mother Sumiko, 69, at the Imperial Palace.
In the first marriage in 45 years of a female member of the Japanese emperor's immediate family, the princess will have to relinquish her royal title after the marriage under the Imperial House Law, which stipulates a female member has to leave the imperial household if she marries someone who is not a member of it.
The two have known each other since childhood as Kuroda is a close friend of Prince Akishino, the younger of the princess' two elder brothers. The prince reportedly played a part in bringing the couple together. In the course of developing their relationship, the couple often communicated using e-mail and mobile phones, prompting some people around them to call their engagement "a love match in a new era."
other news
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?ei=ISO-8859-1&c=&p=takamatsu
Many Imperial Families including the Emperor and Empress visited the mansion of Takamatsu Miya.
Saturday December 18, 11:58 AM
5TH LD: Princess Takamatsu, aunt of emperor, dies at 92
(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S COMMENTS IN 8TH-9TH GRAFS)
Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of Emperor Akihito and a grandchild of the last Tokugawa shogun, died early Saturday at age 92, the Imperial Household Agency said, adding it has postponed a plan to announce the engagement of Princess Sayako to a public servant.
Princess Takamatsu, also known as Princess Kikuko, died of blood poisoning at 4:24 a.m. at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, the agency said.
Following the princess's death, the agency said it has postponed an announcement scheduled for the day that Princess Sayako, 35, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito, will marry Yoshiki Kuroda, 39, a Tokyo metropolitan government employee, next year.
The agency released no rescheduling of the engagement announcement.
Escorted by police cars, a vehicle carrying Princess Takamatsu's body left the hospital as reporters and police officers gathered outside, and arrived at her home in Minato Ward later in the morning.
All members of the imperial family -- Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko and Princess Sayako -- later visited the home. A funeral is expected within 10 days.
Emperor Akihito and other imperial family members will go into mourning for five days beginning Saturday.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement saying, "I am extremely sad to hear the news of her death."
"The princess contributed greatly to wider areas of society, including medical fields," he said, referring to her devotion to finding a cure for cancer.
Princess Takamatsu underwent surgery in February to remove a lump from her left breast. She had been in and out of hospital since then.
She had been in the hospital since August, and on Oct. 18 she underwent another operation for dialysis.
While in the hospital, the princess was delighted on being informed of Princess Sayako's planned marriage, according to sources close to the imperial family.
Princess Takamatsu had been confined to bed but remained conscious, reading magazines and newspapers and sometimes eating ice cream until just recently, though she was fed by an intravenous drip.
Her condition suddenly worsened around 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the sources.
The princess was the widow of Prince Takamatsu, a younger brother of the late Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa.
She had lived with agency employees at the prince's residence in Minato Ward since Prince Takamatsu died in February 1987.
The Takamatsu house came to an end because the couple had no children.
Born in December 1911, Princess Takamatsu was a grandchild of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate regime (1603-1868).
She married Prince Takamatsu, a son of Emperor Yoshihito, posthumously known as Emperor Taisho, at the age of 18 in 1930.
After World War II, she assumed honorary presidencies of groups including the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund and an association assisting leprosy patients.
In August 1999, she was hospitalized with a broken left femur. She also suffered from a duodenal ulcer and pneumonia but recovered and left the hospital in January 2000.
In May 2003, she underwent surgery for a broken right femur.
The agency had planned to have a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Imperial Palace to announce Princess Sayako's engagement with Kuroda. The couple is to marry next year.
Although Princess Sayako, popularly known as Princess Nori, and Kuroda still have several traditional ceremonies to go through before officially declaring their engagement, the couple was to appear together in public for the first time Saturday since media began reporting on their relationship last month.
The announcement of the engagement was originally slated for last month but was postponed out of consideration for the victims of major earthquakes in Niigata Prefecture in October, according to the agency.
Princess Sayako and Kuroda had also planned to meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for a greeting and have dinner with the imperial couple and Kuroda's mother Sumiko, 69, at the Imperial Palace.
In the first marriage in 45 years of a female member of the Japanese emperor's immediate family, the princess will have to relinquish her royal title after the marriage under the Imperial House Law, which stipulates a female member has to leave the imperial household if she marries someone who is not a member of it.
The two have known each other since childhood as Kuroda is a close friend of Prince Akishino, the younger of the princess' two elder brothers. The prince reportedly played a part in bringing the couple together. In the course of developing their relationship, the couple often communicated using e-mail and mobile phones, prompting some people around them to call their engagement "a love match in a new era."
other news
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?ei=ISO-8859-1&c=&p=takamatsu
Many Imperial Families including the Emperor and Empress visited the mansion of Takamatsu Miya.
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merampo
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Japan puts off royal wedding announcement after family death
Japan puts off royal wedding announcement after family death
TOKYO, (AFP) - Japan on Saturday put on hold the long-awaited announcement that Princess Sayako would become the last of the emperor's children to marry after the oldest royal, Princess Kikuko, died at age 92.
The royal household had hoped that Sayako's marriage at age 35 would lift the gloom in Japan after a year of natural disasters. The wedding announcement was already delayed out of respect for victims of a killer October earthquake.
The Imperial Household Agency said an official statement set for Saturday on the wedding was being put off until further notice after Princess Kikuko, the aunt of Emperor Akihito, died early in the morning after years of ill health.
"We have postponed all events related to the announcement of the engagement because of the death," an agency spokesman said.
Princess Kikuko, also known as Takamatsu, the name of her royal line, died in a Tokyo hospital of blood poisoning related to kidney problems, the royal minders said.
The princess has been in and out of hospital since having a lump removed from her breast in February and had undergone dialysis.
Kikuko was the widow of late emperor Hirohito's younger brother Prince Takamatsu, who died in 1987.
She was the granddaughter of the last of the shoguns, Japan's feudal rulers until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 which gave power to the emperor and marked the start of Japan's modernization.
But Kikuko, who would have turned 93 on December 26, took an unusually modern role for someone so entrenched in the world's oldest monarchy.
She wrote for popular women's magazines and in 2002 authored an article in favor of changing dynastic rules to let a female ascend Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne.
No boys have been born to the imperial family since 1965, potentially spelling crisis for royal succession.
The pressure to produce a male heir has piled stress on Crown Princess Masako, a former career woman who withdrew from public events a year ago. She and Crown Prince Naruhito have only one child, three-year-old Princess Aiko.
Kikuko had written in her article that whether Masako has a boy was "up to the stork."
Masako's sister-in-law Princess Sayako had taken the unusual step in Japan of deciding to marry late in her 30s.
She is set to marry commoner Yoshiki Kuroda, 39, a childhood friend who works in the city planning bureau for the Tokyo metropolitan government.
News that she would wed was welcomed by Japan's department stores which reported a surge on interest in wedding-related merchandise.
Her engagement was reported on November 14 by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and confirmed by the Imperial Household Agency, which said it was withholding the formal announcement out of consideration for earthquake victims.
Forty people died in the central Niigata region in an October 23 earthquake which was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. It followed a record 10 typhoons hitting Japan that left about 120 people dead.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041218/wl_asia_afp/japanroyal_041218033451
Japan puts off royal wedding announcement after family death
TOKYO, (AFP) - Japan on Saturday put on hold the long-awaited announcement that Princess Sayako would become the last of the emperor's children to marry after the oldest royal, Princess Kikuko, died at age 92.
The royal household had hoped that Sayako's marriage at age 35 would lift the gloom in Japan after a year of natural disasters. The wedding announcement was already delayed out of respect for victims of a killer October earthquake.
The Imperial Household Agency said an official statement set for Saturday on the wedding was being put off until further notice after Princess Kikuko, the aunt of Emperor Akihito, died early in the morning after years of ill health.
"We have postponed all events related to the announcement of the engagement because of the death," an agency spokesman said.
Princess Kikuko, also known as Takamatsu, the name of her royal line, died in a Tokyo hospital of blood poisoning related to kidney problems, the royal minders said.
The princess has been in and out of hospital since having a lump removed from her breast in February and had undergone dialysis.
Kikuko was the widow of late emperor Hirohito's younger brother Prince Takamatsu, who died in 1987.
She was the granddaughter of the last of the shoguns, Japan's feudal rulers until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 which gave power to the emperor and marked the start of Japan's modernization.
But Kikuko, who would have turned 93 on December 26, took an unusually modern role for someone so entrenched in the world's oldest monarchy.
She wrote for popular women's magazines and in 2002 authored an article in favor of changing dynastic rules to let a female ascend Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne.
No boys have been born to the imperial family since 1965, potentially spelling crisis for royal succession.
The pressure to produce a male heir has piled stress on Crown Princess Masako, a former career woman who withdrew from public events a year ago. She and Crown Prince Naruhito have only one child, three-year-old Princess Aiko.
Kikuko had written in her article that whether Masako has a boy was "up to the stork."
Masako's sister-in-law Princess Sayako had taken the unusual step in Japan of deciding to marry late in her 30s.
She is set to marry commoner Yoshiki Kuroda, 39, a childhood friend who works in the city planning bureau for the Tokyo metropolitan government.
News that she would wed was welcomed by Japan's department stores which reported a surge on interest in wedding-related merchandise.
Her engagement was reported on November 14 by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and confirmed by the Imperial Household Agency, which said it was withholding the formal announcement out of consideration for earthquake victims.
Forty people died in the central Niigata region in an October 23 earthquake which was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. It followed a record 10 typhoons hitting Japan that left about 120 people dead.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041218/wl_asia_afp/japanroyal_041218033451
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merampo
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Princess Kikuko Takamatsu's history
Princess Kikuko was born on December 26, 1911.
Her grandfather on father's side is the last Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa
And,her mother was Princess Mieko Arisugawa,so her lineage is excellent.
She married Prince Takamatsu of Japan (1905 -1987), brother of the Emperor of Japan, on February 4, 1930.
1,With her mother
2,On her grandfather,Yoshinobu Tokugawa(February, 1913)
3,With her brother(1918)
4,She graduated from the school in 1929.
5,Wedding ceremony(February 4, 1930)
6,Wedding ceremony
7,Wedding reception(February 18, 1930)
8,Wedding reception
9,??
Princess Kikuko was born on December 26, 1911.
Her grandfather on father's side is the last Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa
And,her mother was Princess Mieko Arisugawa,so her lineage is excellent.
She married Prince Takamatsu of Japan (1905 -1987), brother of the Emperor of Japan, on February 4, 1930.
1,With her mother
2,On her grandfather,Yoshinobu Tokugawa(February, 1913)
3,With her brother(1918)
4,She graduated from the school in 1929.
5,Wedding ceremony(February 4, 1930)
6,Wedding ceremony
7,Wedding reception(February 18, 1930)
8,Wedding reception
9,??
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merampo
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Prince Takamatsu and his wife visited 26 nations over one year and two months from April, 1930.
1,On the ship which goes to Britain(April 21, 1930)
2,Prince Takamatsu and his wife arrive in London and are greeted by a parade of guards(June26,1930)
3and4,Prince Takamatsuand his wife arriving in England at Dover, and is met by the Duke of Gloucester and an honour guard(June26,1930)
5,They arrive in London and parade to Buckingham Palace.(June26,1930)
6,They go to a Lord-Mayor-of-London-sponsored luncheon.(June27,1930)
7,With Lord-Mayor-of-London(June27,1930)
8,Prince Takamatsu at Military Ceremony(July 2, 1930 )
9,In London(July10,1930)
10,They watch an aircraft flying over Croydon Airport with Lord Thomson, British Air Minister.
1,On the ship which goes to Britain(April 21, 1930)
2,Prince Takamatsu and his wife arrive in London and are greeted by a parade of guards(June26,1930)
3and4,Prince Takamatsuand his wife arriving in England at Dover, and is met by the Duke of Gloucester and an honour guard(June26,1930)
5,They arrive in London and parade to Buckingham Palace.(June26,1930)
6,They go to a Lord-Mayor-of-London-sponsored luncheon.(June27,1930)
7,With Lord-Mayor-of-London(June27,1930)
8,Prince Takamatsu at Military Ceremony(July 2, 1930 )
9,In London(July10,1930)
10,They watch an aircraft flying over Croydon Airport with Lord Thomson, British Air Minister.
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merampo
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1,Prince and Princess Takamatsu of Japan leave Claridges Hotel for Victoria on their way from London to Paris.(July12,1930)
2,In Potomak Park(April6,1931)
3,Prince and Princess Takamatsu with Mayor at Liberty Bell(April 21, 1931 )
4,Photo taken in 1934
2,In Potomak Park(April6,1931)
3,Prince and Princess Takamatsu with Mayor at Liberty Bell(April 21, 1931 )
4,Photo taken in 1934
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merampo
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Empress Michiko always wear that kind of hat like that.Everytime with different colours she wear the same kind of hat.It looks like a dish!
merampo
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Emperor greets well-wishers at palace on 71st birthday
Emperor Akihito greeted the public Thursday on his 71st birthday, waving to crowds of well-wishers from an Imperial Palace balcony together with members of the imperial family.
The emperor will appear three times from around 10:20 a.m. through noon on the balcony of Chowa Palace with Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Princess Sayako.
Princess Masako, the wife of the crown prince, is not present as she is recuperating from a stress-induced illness.
In the afternoon, the emperor is scheduled to celebrate his birthday with members of the imperial family, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi.
The emperor also plans to invite foreign ambassadors and other dignitaries for a tea ceremony in the afternoon. The celebration is being held as in the past because the five-day mourning period for Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of the emperor who died last Saturday, ended Wednesday.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041223/kyodo/d87522vg0.html
His Majesty’s Answers to Questions by the Press on the Occasion of His Birthday, 2004, and the Activities of His Majesty the Emperor over the Past One Year
Question 2
More than one year has passed since Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess withdrew from her official duties. In May, comments made by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince aroused various discussions, and Your Majesty has also made your own opinions known on a number of occasions through the Imperial Household Agency. Could Your Majesty tell us about your feelings at those times, and also your thoughts about the difficulties Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess is going through, the path towards their resolution, and also your expectations for Their Imperial Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess who represent the next generation of the Imperial Family?
Answer 2
Although I was delighted to see the Crown Princess looking fit and well around the time of her visit to New Zealand and Australia two years ago, I was worried to hear later, that she was experiencing difficulties in pursuing her official duties and child rearing at the same time. I therefore thought that what was most important was the recovery of her health when she became easily tired and her visits to us virtually ceased around May last year.and the number of her official duties reduced.
It was under such circumstances that the Crown Prince gave his statement in May this year. I was very surprised as it was the first time for me also to hear it, and I asked him to give an explanation to the people as he used the word “movement,” which could have a serious meaning. In the ensuing explanation it became clear that the Crown Princess was dealing with a number of problems, in addition to the task of pursuing official duties at the same time as child rearing. It is regrettable if our respect for the independence of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess who maintain their own independent household has proved to be the cause of our failure to notice these various problems, even though the Empress and I had always been ready to offer our counsel had we been consulted.
Another occasion when I made my own opinions known, as you indicated in your question, was the time when the Crown Prince’s remarks were taken up by media as something directed at the Empress and myself. Although it was painful to be exposed to such speculation that had no factual basis, I made a decision that as the Imperial Family we should avoid any vindication with regard to the criticisms that had been directed at us, since they concerned almost entirely matters within the family, and I conveyed this decision to the Imperial Household Agency.
I have since listened to the Crown Prince on several occasions concerning the content of his statement, but there are still some things that I have not fully understood yet. I would like to refrain therefore from making any detailed comment at this stage.
Since the Crown Prince’s statement in May, there has also been much discussion about the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’ official duties. I think that the statement made by Prince Akishino that “official duties are passive in nature” and the statement by the Crown Prince about “new official duties in step with a particular era” are not necessarily contradictory in nature. The Empress and I have learned during the long years since our marriage that new official duties would have very little real meaning if they did not reflect individual hopes or interests, and, at the same time, official duties could newly emerge in the course of diligently carrying out the duties of one’s assignment. Although we do not know yet what kind of new official duties the Crown Prince wishes to engage in, I sincerely hope that when he starts out on such duties, he will give full consideration to the health of the Crown Princess as well as the sustainability of such new duties and their balance with existing ones. In case the existing official duties are to be reduced, it should not be done in an irresponsible manner, but the issues of timing and the position of those who make the requests for such official duties should be fully considered. I believe that it is important for the Crown Prince to specifically indicate the “official duties in step with a particular era” that he has in mind, or at least indicate a direction for them, and in so doing gain the cooperation of those around him. I sincerely hope that in frankly conveying the hopes that they now have, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will be able to move towards the realization of those hopes and that this will bring them stability and brightness in their life together.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/epress/epress-h16.html
Emperor Akihito greeted the public Thursday on his 71st birthday, waving to crowds of well-wishers from an Imperial Palace balcony together with members of the imperial family.
The emperor will appear three times from around 10:20 a.m. through noon on the balcony of Chowa Palace with Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Princess Sayako.
Princess Masako, the wife of the crown prince, is not present as she is recuperating from a stress-induced illness.
In the afternoon, the emperor is scheduled to celebrate his birthday with members of the imperial family, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councillors President Chikage Ogi.
The emperor also plans to invite foreign ambassadors and other dignitaries for a tea ceremony in the afternoon. The celebration is being held as in the past because the five-day mourning period for Princess Takamatsu, an aunt of the emperor who died last Saturday, ended Wednesday.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041223/kyodo/d87522vg0.html
His Majesty’s Answers to Questions by the Press on the Occasion of His Birthday, 2004, and the Activities of His Majesty the Emperor over the Past One Year
Question 2
More than one year has passed since Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess withdrew from her official duties. In May, comments made by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince aroused various discussions, and Your Majesty has also made your own opinions known on a number of occasions through the Imperial Household Agency. Could Your Majesty tell us about your feelings at those times, and also your thoughts about the difficulties Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess is going through, the path towards their resolution, and also your expectations for Their Imperial Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess who represent the next generation of the Imperial Family?
Answer 2
Although I was delighted to see the Crown Princess looking fit and well around the time of her visit to New Zealand and Australia two years ago, I was worried to hear later, that she was experiencing difficulties in pursuing her official duties and child rearing at the same time. I therefore thought that what was most important was the recovery of her health when she became easily tired and her visits to us virtually ceased around May last year.and the number of her official duties reduced.
It was under such circumstances that the Crown Prince gave his statement in May this year. I was very surprised as it was the first time for me also to hear it, and I asked him to give an explanation to the people as he used the word “movement,” which could have a serious meaning. In the ensuing explanation it became clear that the Crown Princess was dealing with a number of problems, in addition to the task of pursuing official duties at the same time as child rearing. It is regrettable if our respect for the independence of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess who maintain their own independent household has proved to be the cause of our failure to notice these various problems, even though the Empress and I had always been ready to offer our counsel had we been consulted.
Another occasion when I made my own opinions known, as you indicated in your question, was the time when the Crown Prince’s remarks were taken up by media as something directed at the Empress and myself. Although it was painful to be exposed to such speculation that had no factual basis, I made a decision that as the Imperial Family we should avoid any vindication with regard to the criticisms that had been directed at us, since they concerned almost entirely matters within the family, and I conveyed this decision to the Imperial Household Agency.
I have since listened to the Crown Prince on several occasions concerning the content of his statement, but there are still some things that I have not fully understood yet. I would like to refrain therefore from making any detailed comment at this stage.
Since the Crown Prince’s statement in May, there has also been much discussion about the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’ official duties. I think that the statement made by Prince Akishino that “official duties are passive in nature” and the statement by the Crown Prince about “new official duties in step with a particular era” are not necessarily contradictory in nature. The Empress and I have learned during the long years since our marriage that new official duties would have very little real meaning if they did not reflect individual hopes or interests, and, at the same time, official duties could newly emerge in the course of diligently carrying out the duties of one’s assignment. Although we do not know yet what kind of new official duties the Crown Prince wishes to engage in, I sincerely hope that when he starts out on such duties, he will give full consideration to the health of the Crown Princess as well as the sustainability of such new duties and their balance with existing ones. In case the existing official duties are to be reduced, it should not be done in an irresponsible manner, but the issues of timing and the position of those who make the requests for such official duties should be fully considered. I believe that it is important for the Crown Prince to specifically indicate the “official duties in step with a particular era” that he has in mind, or at least indicate a direction for them, and in so doing gain the cooperation of those around him. I sincerely hope that in frankly conveying the hopes that they now have, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will be able to move towards the realization of those hopes and that this will bring them stability and brightness in their life together.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/epress/epress-h16.html
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1~2
rincess Sayako
3:tea party after standing on the balcony
7:Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, right, along with Princess Aiko, waves as they arrive at the Imperial Palace to have dinner with other royal family members in Tokyo Thursday, Dec.23, 2004, to celebrate the birthday for his father Emperor Akihito. Marking his 71th birthday, Emperor Akihito said that remarks by his son Naruhito accusing palace officials earlier this year of contributing to his wife Crown Princess Masako's stress-related illness were a surprise that has become his major concern.
rincess Sayako3:tea party after standing on the balcony
7:Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, right, along with Princess Aiko, waves as they arrive at the Imperial Palace to have dinner with other royal family members in Tokyo Thursday, Dec.23, 2004, to celebrate the birthday for his father Emperor Akihito. Marking his 71th birthday, Emperor Akihito said that remarks by his son Naruhito accusing palace officials earlier this year of contributing to his wife Crown Princess Masako's stress-related illness were a surprise that has become his major concern.
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1~3:The Imperial families arrive at the residence of late Princess Takamatsu in Tokyo for an imperial ceremony to move the princess's body to a casket Friday, Dec.24, 2004. The funeral will be held Sunday, Dec. 26 in Tokyo for Princess Takamatsu, emperor's aunt, also known as her name Kikuko, who died at the age of 92 Saturday, Dec. 18.
4:In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, seated in the first row left, Prince Tomohito, in the first row right, the chief mourner, and others, accompanied by Priest Mineo Yamaguchi, right, attend the imperial wake for late Princess Takamatsu at her residence in Tokyo Friday, Dec. 24, 2004. The funeral will be held Sunday, Dec. 26 in Tokyo for the princess, Emperor Akihito's aunt, also known as her name Kikuko, who died at the age of 92 Saturday, Dec. 18.
4:In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, seated in the first row left, Prince Tomohito, in the first row right, the chief mourner, and others, accompanied by Priest Mineo Yamaguchi, right, attend the imperial wake for late Princess Takamatsu at her residence in Tokyo Friday, Dec. 24, 2004. The funeral will be held Sunday, Dec. 26 in Tokyo for the princess, Emperor Akihito's aunt, also known as her name Kikuko, who died at the age of 92 Saturday, Dec. 18.
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pdas1201
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pdas1201
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pdas1201
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Here is a video of the funeral proceedings...
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/2004/12/26/k20041226000051.html#
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/2004/12/26/k20041226000051.html#
merampo
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merampo
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pdas1201
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That's weird!!!Ephram said:
I played it just now and it worked for me. Here is what I did. I clicked on the link provided, then clicked on the green video icon, which automatically opened up realplayer for the broadcast.
Make sure you have the latest version of real player, if not get it at www.realplayer.com. Also, make sure you don't have any popup blockers set up, disable them if so.
pdas1201
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Thank you, merampo. I really liked your pics as well.merampo said:
Since, this thread is only for news pertaining to the Japanese Royal Family and not instructions. I will send you a seperate PM explaining about searching pics at Anp.
rchainho
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-Where live all the members of the imperial family?
-Which titles have all members?
-All the members that wants to marry have to sign a pre-agreement paper before marriage?
-Has anyone of the imperial family has divorced?
Anyone can answer my questions please?
-Which titles have all members?
-All the members that wants to marry have to sign a pre-agreement paper before marriage?
-Has anyone of the imperial family has divorced?
Anyone can answer my questions please?
merampo
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New family photos
Polfoto 31-12-2004 This Imperial Palace official photo distributed by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese Emperor Akihito, seated on a chair second from left, and Empress Michiko, seated center, and their family members look on Princess Aiko, daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, seated on a chair at left, and Crown Princess Masako, kneels down on the floor at right, play with Princess Mako, kneeling down foreground, and Princess Kako, daughters of Prince Akishino, seated on a chair second from right, and Princess Kiko, kneeling down at left, for a family photo session for the New Year at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004. Looking on at far right is Princess Sayako.
Polfoto 31-12-2004 This Imperial Palace official photo distributed by the Imperial Household Agency, Japanese Emperor Akihito, seated on a chair second from left, and Empress Michiko, seated center, and their family members look on Princess Aiko, daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, seated on a chair at left, and Crown Princess Masako, kneels down on the floor at right, play with Princess Mako, kneeling down foreground, and Princess Kako, daughters of Prince Akishino, seated on a chair second from right, and Princess Kiko, kneeling down at left, for a family photo session for the New Year at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004. Looking on at far right is Princess Sayako.
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merampo
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You can see movie here
http://www.asahi.com/video/041229emp.wvx
8.Crown Prince family going to Imperia Palace to take this movie.(12-14)
9.Crown princess Masako and Princess Aiko going to Imperial Palace to greet Emperor and Empress.
http://www.asahi.com/video/041229emp.wvx
8.Crown Prince family going to Imperia Palace to take this movie.(12-14)
9.Crown princess Masako and Princess Aiko going to Imperial Palace to greet Emperor and Empress.
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merampo
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New Year Greeting
Their Majesties' New Year Reception
At the Imperial Palace each year on 1 January, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year greetings from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the rest of the Imperial Family; the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice-Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial organs; prefectural governors and chairpersons of prefectural assemblies; and heads of diplomatic missions to Japan and their spouses. This ceremony is considered a state event.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e04/ed04-01.html
Their Majesties' New Year Reception
At the Imperial Palace each year on 1 January, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year greetings from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the rest of the Imperial Family; the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice-Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial organs; prefectural governors and chairpersons of prefectural assemblies; and heads of diplomatic missions to Japan and their spouses. This ceremony is considered a state event.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e04/ed04-01.html
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semisquare
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someone told me that u never know who is out here leaving messages. so lets hope that maybe she might look at this msg board and take our advice to find a designer who will make her look like a young women(because 35 is young). maybe her gown should have a v neck line with a empire waist, made of silk and lace over the silk and a very classic tiara. just something pretty and flowing not stiff high collar dress.
merampo
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People's Visit to the Palace for the New Year Greeting
Sunday January 2, 11:47 AM Crown Princess Masako joins rest of imperial family for New Year's greeting
Japan's Crown Princess Masako joined the rest of the imperial family in greeting the public at the start of 2005 on Sunday after missing the annual ritual last year to recover from a psychological disorder brought on by the stresses of royal life.
Dressed in a sequined, blue velvet dress accented by a sparkling pendant, Masako smiled and waved gently from a glass-enclosed balcony on the Imperial Palace grounds.
Emperor Akihito, Masako's father-in-law, briefly addressed the crowd of 19,000 people, which responded with shouts of "Banzai!" _ or long life _ while waving flags.
"I am sincerely delighted to be able to celebrate the New Year with you," Akihito told the crowd. "I hope for your happiness and pray for world peace."
The family will appear briefly six more times throughout the day, though the Imperial Household Agency said Masako would skip the remainder of the sessions.
The public is allowed in the moat-ringed palace grounds only twice a year _ on Jan. 2 and on the emperor's birthday.
Masako, 41, has largely stayed out of the public eye since December 2003, when she was hospitalized and diagnosed with shingles _ a viral infection that typically results in pain and a rash.
About eight months later, palace officials said the Harvard and Oxford-educated former diplomat was suffering from adjustment disorder, a stress-induced condition marked by bouts of depression and anxiety, and was receiving counseling and medication.
The princess said she was suffering from accumulated stress, while her husband Crown Prince Naruhito noted the enormous pressures on her to produce a royal heir.
Masako and Naruhito, 44, have a three-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, but only men are allowed to assume the Chrysanthemum Throne under Japanese law.
The government last week said it would set up a task force to consider allowing a reigning empress, which polls show the Japanese public overwhelmingly supports.
No boy has been born to the Japanese royal family since the 1960s, creating a looming succession crisis for the world's oldest monarchy.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's only daughter, Princess Sayako, meanwhile, participated in the greeting for the last time ahead of her expected marriage later this year to Tokyo city hall official Yoshiki Kuroda.
As a woman born in the imperial family, the 35-year-old Sayako will lose her royal title, move out of the palace, and become a commoner after she weds. The public is allowed in the palace grounds only twice a year _ on Jan. 2 and on the emperor's birthday.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050102/ap/d87bmtlg0.html
Sunday January 2, 11:47 AM Crown Princess Masako joins rest of imperial family for New Year's greeting
Japan's Crown Princess Masako joined the rest of the imperial family in greeting the public at the start of 2005 on Sunday after missing the annual ritual last year to recover from a psychological disorder brought on by the stresses of royal life.
Dressed in a sequined, blue velvet dress accented by a sparkling pendant, Masako smiled and waved gently from a glass-enclosed balcony on the Imperial Palace grounds.
Emperor Akihito, Masako's father-in-law, briefly addressed the crowd of 19,000 people, which responded with shouts of "Banzai!" _ or long life _ while waving flags.
"I am sincerely delighted to be able to celebrate the New Year with you," Akihito told the crowd. "I hope for your happiness and pray for world peace."
The family will appear briefly six more times throughout the day, though the Imperial Household Agency said Masako would skip the remainder of the sessions.
The public is allowed in the moat-ringed palace grounds only twice a year _ on Jan. 2 and on the emperor's birthday.
Masako, 41, has largely stayed out of the public eye since December 2003, when she was hospitalized and diagnosed with shingles _ a viral infection that typically results in pain and a rash.
About eight months later, palace officials said the Harvard and Oxford-educated former diplomat was suffering from adjustment disorder, a stress-induced condition marked by bouts of depression and anxiety, and was receiving counseling and medication.
The princess said she was suffering from accumulated stress, while her husband Crown Prince Naruhito noted the enormous pressures on her to produce a royal heir.
Masako and Naruhito, 44, have a three-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, but only men are allowed to assume the Chrysanthemum Throne under Japanese law.
The government last week said it would set up a task force to consider allowing a reigning empress, which polls show the Japanese public overwhelmingly supports.
No boy has been born to the Japanese royal family since the 1960s, creating a looming succession crisis for the world's oldest monarchy.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's only daughter, Princess Sayako, meanwhile, participated in the greeting for the last time ahead of her expected marriage later this year to Tokyo city hall official Yoshiki Kuroda.
As a woman born in the imperial family, the 35-year-old Sayako will lose her royal title, move out of the palace, and become a commoner after she weds. The public is allowed in the palace grounds only twice a year _ on Jan. 2 and on the emperor's birthday.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050102/ap/d87bmtlg0.html
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