Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako Current Events 6: Ja.2016 - April 2019

[Prisma]

CP Naruhito's address at LAWASIA Conference Tokyo 2017

Addresses by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince(2017) : Addresses by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince - The Imperial Household Agency

Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

　It is my great pleasure that the LAWASIA Conference Tokyo 2017 has brought together so many legal professionals and jurists from around the Asian-Pacific region.

　It is of great significance that LAWASIA has been continuing its efforts for over 50 years, ever since its inception in 1966, to promote mutual exchanges and deepen friendships among lawyers.

　As I mentioned at the opening ceremony of the 18th LAWASIA Conference held in Tokyo in 2003, the Asia-Pacific region has achieved dramatic economic development over the last few decades. More recently, there has been impressive technological progress in areas such as IT and AI.

　It is a very timely opportunity for lawyers from around the region to gather here and exchange views on establishing the legal fundamentals that are necessary to respond to such changes, as well as on various other problems facing the region.

　It is also highly meaningful that, alongside this conference, Chief Justices from each country being here will discuss, from a broad perspective, the issues surrounding the judiciary and the courts of the region with the view of establishing fair and independent judicial systems.

　I would like to close my address by expressing my sincere hope that this conference will promote mutual understanding and friendship, and will contribute to the establishment and reinforcement of the rule of law that could pave the way for a brighter future of all people.

 

[Prisma]

On September 23rd, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the 70th anniversary of BBS Movement in Shibuya, Tokyo. Taken from the English words "Big Brothers and Sisters", the organization supports at risk youth and rehabilitation of delinquents. About 570 people attended the ceremony although there are 4500 nationwide volunteers, social workers, counselors, etc.

Photos: Sankei, Asahi

ETA: corrected date.

 

[Prisma]

Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako current events 6: January 2016 -

On September 27th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the International Youth Conference at the Hotel New Otani in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Foreign exchange students and Japanese who went overseas discussed multicultural symbiosis. The conference began in 1994 in commemoration of the couple's wedding anniversary. CP Naruhito attended the reception afterwards alone.

Photos: Asahi, Yomiuri, Getty Images

 

[Prisma]

On October 2nd, CP Naruhito and CP Masako traveled to Kyoto and visited Nijo Castle for about an hour. The couple will stay at Kyoto Omiya Imperial Palace and attend the closing ceremony of the Science and Technology in Society Forum tomorrow. According to IHA, this is Masako’s first public service in Kyoto in 14 years. CP Naruhito visited Nijo Castle in 1978 on a school field trip. [Jiji]

Photos: Sankei

www.kochinews.co.jp reports CP Naruhito will visit Kochi October 23-24 for the opening ceremony of the 20th National Agricultural Leader Summit. CP Masako will accompany him if there is no problem in physical condition.

 

[iceflower]

The couple attended the opening ceremony of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum in Kyoto today, October 3:


** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

Thanks! I think Getty has a small mistake. The STS forum's site NPO STS forum state the event is October 1-3 so I doubt the opening ceremony is on the last day.

NHK reports about 1,400 people from nearly 80 countries and regions attended the forum. Speakers included Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, who shared the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. CP Naruhito has attended the forum every 3 years. This is CP Masako's first appearance.

Some twitter video/photos:

https://twitter.com/x/status/915097817789509632

https://twitter.com/x/status/915144940203606018

https://twitter.com/x/status/915050217459904513

 

[Prisma]

Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako current events 6: January 2016 -

On October 11th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended a memorial ceremony for people who died in work accidents at Takao Miroko Shrine in Hachioji, Tokyo. CP Naruhito has attended every 5 years. This is CP Masako's first appearance in 15 years.

Photos: Sankei

 

[Mermaid1962]

I think that CP Masako is a very sensitive woman. I can see it in her face when she talks to bereaved people.

 

[Prisma]

On October 10th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako visited the Imperial Palace for a lecture about Emperor Fushimi (1265 - 1317, reigned 1287 - 1298).
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/171014/prm1710140024-p32.jpg

Source: Sankei Imperial Weekly #508

 

[Prisma]

On October 19th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the "70th anniversary ceremony for Junior High School Education" at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda, Tokyo. About 3,800 people including junior high school principals from across the country attended the ceremony commemorating the establishment of the current system in 1947.

Photos: Asahi

 

[Prisma]

more photos at Getty Images

 

[Prisma]

www.kochinews.co.jp reports CP Naruhito will visit Kochi October 23-24 for the opening ceremony of the 20th National Agricultural Leader Summit. CP Masako will accompany him if there is no problem in physical condition.

On October 23rd, CP Naruhito and CP Masako arrived in Kochi Prefecture and visited a next-generation paprika garden farm in Nankoku. The state of the art technology features automatic management of temperature and humidity.

Photos: Mainichi, Sankei

Due to Typhoon No. 21, their morning flight was changed to the afternoon and a visit to Makino Botanical Garden was cancelled. [Sankei West]

Some tweets:

https://twitter.com/x/status/922376972532985856

https://twitter.com/x/status/922380448977653762

https://twitter.com/x/status/922386155328356352

https://twitter.com/x/status/922387243875971072

https://twitter.com/x/status/922426044879011843

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbHqOJ9bSFI

 

[iceflower]

.

Today, October 24, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako were present at the opening ceremony of a young farmers' summit in Kochi:


** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

CP Naruhito visited the Kochi Castle History Museum on the morning of the 24th. The museum features an extensive collection of 67,000 historical materials and artworks of the Tosa clan, including a letter from Ryoma Sakamoto. CP Masako was resting at the hotel.
Photos: Asahi

Before the agricultural summit, CP Naruhito and CP Masako met with young farmers who cultivated yuzu and raised beef cattle. They asked about the typhoon damage.
About 1,800 people attended the summit's opening ceremony. CP Naruhito's speech mentioned the typhoon damage across the country and hoped for restoration as soon as possible.

Sources: Chunichi, Jiji

https://twitter.com/x/status/922737983081521152

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DM43_cvVQAEGFCG.jpg
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/images/2017102401001709.jpg
https://www.jiji.com/news/kiji_photos/0171024at75_p.jpg

In the evening, CP Naruhito received Bhutanese Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, a sister of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, at Togu Palace. Although CP Masako did not appear for the photo op outside, she was inside and joined in discussion for an hour. [news.tbs.co.jp]

 

[Alisa]

Wow...CPss Masako looks great in that blue suit!

 

[Prisma]

Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako current events 6: January 2016 -

CP Masako continues to improve. On October 26th, the CP couple attended the opening ceremony of GEA (Global Environmental Action) International Conference 2017 in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

Photos: Sankei, Getty Images (updated)

IHA announced CP Naruhito and CP Masako will visit Miyagi Prefecture on November 1st to see the reconstruction progress from the 2011 earthquake. Agenda includes visits to Natori and Watari cities, meeting victims, and floral tribute at a memorial monument.
Source: Sankei 2

 

[4Pam]

I'm so happy to see her out & about! She looks amazing.

 

[Prisma]

Me too. Sankei's October 24 article also noted Masako's increase in activities since summer, including regional visits and events she's been absent from since entering long term medical care. Outlook looks encouraging that she can take over Empress Michiko's public service to some extent when abdication happens. During the Kochi visit, the CP couple interacted with people waiting outside the pepper garden house. The unplanned action delayed the schedule by 20 minutes. The report mentioned Masako watching the Empress carefully during the Florence Nightingale ceremony in August. That ceremony takes place every 2 years so Masako will be handing out awards and pinning medals at the next ceremony. Princess Aiko's smooth transition to high school is also seen as a positive factor. Last year Masako's condition deteriorated after taking of Aiko's illness in the fall. The CP household's spokesperson says Masako's attendance is important and they're balancing her recovery; there are still waves in physical condition.

Updated the Getty link above.

Getty also added to its October 23-24 Kochi visit gallery.

 

[Prisma]

Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako current events 6: January 2016 -

IHA announced CP Naruhito and CP Masako will visit Miyagi Prefecture on November 1st to see the reconstruction progress from the 2011 earthquake. Agenda includes visits to Natori and Watari cities, meeting victims, and floral tribute at a memorial monument.
Source: Sankei 2

Getty Images (updated)

 

[Prisma]

Crown Prince Naruhito & Crown Princess Masako current events 6: January 2016 -

IHA reported the CP couple brought strawberries from Watari, Miyagi to share with Princess Aiko. When they visited Fukushima Prefecture in 2015, they brought tomatoes from Iwaki back home. [Jiji]

On November 2nd, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended a performance by American-Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman at the Suntory Hall in Minato, Tokyo.

Photos: Asahi

 

[Prisma]

On November 7th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended a concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons, at Suntory Hall in Minato, Tokyo. The couple enjoyed pieces such as Tchaikovsky's violin concertos.

Photos: Asahi, Getty Images

 

[Prisma]

CP Naruhito and CP Masako will visit Kagawa Prefecture November 18-19th. The couple will arrive at Takamatsu airport on the morning of the 18th. They will visit Takamatsu Port, Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum of Art, and attend a meeting for the national festival. On the 19th, they will attend the 41st National Tree Raising Festival in Mannō and visit the Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station in Ayagawa before returning to Tokyo.

Source: Mainichi

 

[Prisma]

On November 10th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the International Cosmos Prize 25th Anniversary Symposium held at the United Nations University in Shibuya, Tokyo. The International Cosmos Prize was established in commemoration of the International Garden and Greenery Exposition held in Osaka, Japan in 1990 (Expo '90 Foundation). The prize honors research or achievement promoting the theme "Harmonious Coexistence of Nature and Mankind" and was first awarded in 1993. This year's winner is Dr. Jane Goodall, British primatologist and anthropologist, expert on chimpanzees.

Photos: Sankei, Jiji
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/171111/prm1711110021-p28.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/171111/prm1711110021-p29.jpg
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/171111/prm1711110021-p30.jpg

Expo '90 Foundation - The Prizewinner 2017 - Dr. Jane Goodall

 

[Prisma]

On November 18th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako arrived in Kagawa Prefecture in the morning. CP Naruhito visited Takamatsu Port's artworks and Isamu Noguchi Garden Art Museum in Takamatsu city and then attended an evening reception with festival officials. CP Masako did not participate in the art visits or evening reception; she was resting and preparing for tomorrow's 41st national [tree] growing ceremony in Mannō.

Photos/info: Sankei, Jiji 1, Jiji 2, Mainichi
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DO6wu-IVoAA7UDf.jpg

ETA:

https://twitter.com/x/status/932269198583070720

https://twitter.com/x/status/932269547402362881

 

[Prisma]

On November 19th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the 41st National Tree Growing Festival in Mannō, Kagawa Prefecture. The couple gave fertilizer to trees planted by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 1988. CP Naruhito trimmed a tree. CP Masako attended this festival for the first time in 14 years since 2003, before entering long term medical treatment.

Afterward, the couple visited the prefectural agricultural testing site at Ayagawa Town to taste udon.

Photos/info: Asahi, Sankei

Twitter photos:

https://twitter.com/x/status/932269826323525632

https://twitter.com/x/status/932269955784962049

https://twitter.com/x/status/932173350654185472

https://twitter.com/x/status/932250481417625601

ETA: Asahi 2 photos

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DO91vh2UIAEdNQ1.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPAE2R2UIAE5xRi.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emr3k1VBavw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JfyRwm6csU

 

[Prisma]

Getty Images including more of the prefectural agricultural testing site.

https://twitter.com/x/status/932217990015197184

Of course, it's Japan so the National Tree Growing Festival has a mascot
https://www.city.kanonji.kagawa.jp/uploaded/image/12844.jpg
https://www.city.kanonji.kagawa.jp

 

[Prisma]

On December 5th, CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended an award ceremony recognizing contributors to "Week of the Disabled" (Dec 3-9) in Chiyoda, Tokyo. CP Masako was quite moved listening to 8 year old Aoi Chino's speech about her younger brother with disabilities and needed to wipe tears at the end of the ceremony. The 2nd grade student from Abiko City, Chiba prefecture won the top prize in the elementary school composition category.

Photos: Jiji

https://twitter.com/x/status/938051278541750273

https://twitter.com/x/status/938028929008394240

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQRX8mRVAAEjnQk.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQSLcyXVoAUFTPy.jpg

 

[Mermaid1962]

The more I see of CP Masako, the more I like her. She has a warm heart. I like her most recent fashion as well. The blue suit and coat are beautiful, and I noticed that the collar of the coat has some asymmetrical detail. This strikes me as being slightly daring for someone in the Japanese Imperial Family. The burgundy suit is a winner as well.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

The more I see of CP Masako, the more I like her. She has a warm heart.

I cannot agree more. She shows emotion and empathy. The Imperial Family and Japanese people are so lucky to have her as their future Empress. Her eyes shine when she is greeted by the public. And CP Naruhito's eyes shine everytime he looks at her.

CP Naruhito and CP Masako are definitely soulmates

 

[Prisma]

Finally... Getty Images added the ceremony for Week of Persons with Disabilities on December 5th.