Crown Prince Naruhito and Family: News and Photos 3

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Yes great news,i think the Princess is improving too.Seeing her now looks so much better and happily.

 

[mandyy]

Another photo of Princess Masako

 

[Jackswife]

GREAT to see Masako out and looking well. Naruhito wins my Royal Husband of the Year Award for sticking by his wife during her troubles and refusing to cave in to pressures from his family. Bravo!

 

[mandyy]

Article from HELLO about Princess Masako on the road to recovery http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2005/05/16/masako/

 

[mandyy]

Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito smile before their talks at the Togu Palace in Tokyo May 16, 2005.

 

[Emily]

Thanks so much for the pictures. I really enjoy them. Can anyone tell me if there is a book - in English - that discusses the Japanese Royal Family?

 

[mandyy]

Crown Prince Naruhito hiking on May 17, 2005.

 

[mandyy]

Visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) poses for a photo with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito prior to their talks at the Togu Palace in Tokyo, 11 May 2005.

 

[mandyy]

Old photos of Princess Masako

1-2. May 26, 1997
3. Oct. 15, 1997
4.Nov. 19, 1997
5. Feb. 10,1998
6.Mar. 23, 1998
7-9. April 28, 1998.
10. Aug. 18, 1998

 

[mandyy]

And more photos1-2. Aug. 27, 1998
3-4. Dec. 2, 1998
5. Nov. 16, 1998
6. Feb. 8, 1999
7.Jan. 29, 1999
8-9. February 4, 2002
10. Nov. 27, 2002

 

[mandyy]

And more still coming
From her visit to New Zealand and Australia
1-9 December 17, 2002
10. 12 December 2002

 

[mandyy]

1. 14 December 2002

2-10. Dec. 15, 2002

 

[mandyy]

1. Dec 15, 2002.
2-3. Dec 16, 2002
4-5. Dec 17, 2002
6-10. 18 December 2002.

 

[mandyy]

1. 16 December 2002.
2. 18 November 2003
3. May 14, 1997.
4. March 25, 1998
5. Oct. 22, 1998
6. Nov. 16, 1998
7. October 15, 1997
8. 25 May 2001
9. March 18, 2002
10. December 17, 2002

 

[mandyy]

1-2. 14 December 2002

 

[Mandy]

Thank you Mandyy for sharing your lovely photos with us.

 

[mandyy]

Prince Naruhito visiting the exhibition "The Interaction of the Medieval East Asian Sea" at the National Museum of Japanese History on May 19, 2005.

 

[mandyy]

Some official birthday and birthday press conference photos of Princess Masako

1-2 Dec 1994
3-6 Nov 11, 1996.
7-10 Nov 1999

 

[merampo]

Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and Princess Aiko visited the Imperial Stock Farm for the rest today.
Prine Naruhito will be here until May 26 and
Crown Princess Masako and Princess Aiko will be here until the end of May.

 

[mandyy]

More photos of their vacation and some old photos

 

[Emily]

Great pictures again! Little Aiko looks to me like she resembles her father!

 

[merampo]

Great pictures again! Little Aiko looks to me like she resembles her father!

You think so? So do I!
Here, it's a picture of Prince Naruhito's childhood.
Let's check it with#79 & #80.
His ripline is really like Princess Aiko.

 

[Mandy]

You think so? So do I!
Here, it's a picture of Prince Naruhito's childhood.
Let's check it with#79 & #80.
His ripline is really like Princess Aiko.

What a lovely picture merampo! Aiko and Naruhito look almost identical.

 

[Emily]

Yes, they really do! Thanks for the picture Merampo!

 

[mandyy]

Parenting book gets princely praise
Acclaimed author Dorothy Law Nolte visits Japan

By TOMOKO OTAKE
Staff writer

Parenting expert Dorothy Law Nolte enjoys a huge following worldwide; her 1998 book, "Children Learn What They Live," sold over 700,000 copies in her native U.S. and has been translated into 36 languages. The Japanese version was a steady seller -- until February this year, when the father of a certain 3-year-old girl brought it to public notice and sent sales through the roof.

Dorothy Law Nolte shot to fame after Crown Prince Naruhito praised her book.

The girl was Princess Aiko, and the father, Crown Price Naruhito, who, at a rare news conference, read out the poem that Nolte penned some 51 years ago and which served as the inspiration for her best seller. Suddenly, "Children Learn What They Live" became required reading for Japanese parents, and PHP Institute Inc., which publishes the Japanese version of the book, says it has sold 2.25 million copies, 780,000 since late February.

So what is so special about Nolte's message that the Crown Prince felt compelled to share it with the nation? The poem he read out was first published in 1954 in a newspaper in Torrence, California, where she wrote a weekly parenting column. The 19-verse poem, which starts with "If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn," goes on to connect children's aggression with an atmosphere of hostility at home, their sense of respect with the kindness they are shown, and so on. The book elaborates on how to instill each of the values listed in the poem, citing a number of real-life situations parents face -- such as kids crying out "I'm hungry!" while they are preparing a meal -- and creative ways to deal with them.

Nolte visited Japan for the fourth time earlier this month. This time, unlike on previous visits, she had a chance to spend half a day with local children at Suginami Daishi Elementary School in Tokyo. The 81-year-old author, who has three children, two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, shared her thoughts on her work, parenting and much more in this interview with The Japan Times.

Why do you think your book has become so popular around the world?

I feel the book met a need. Even just the title is an introduction to a need. As you think, children learn what they live, parents get thoughtful just with that, and think, "Oh, I'd better read that." So even the title sparks a reaching for the book, at least to look at it, to examine. If they do that much, I think they'll be trapped. (Laughs) I think they'll move into wanting to explore the book, which means they are exploring their role in parenting, aren't they? And that's very important.

When you visited the elementary school, did you notice any cultural differences between kids in the U.S. and in Japan?

No. Kids are like kids, really and truly. They get restless, they want to move on. Or they totally absorbed if you do it the right way, which is what we want -- their attention . . . I just simply realized that kids are kids and they work in certain ways, and if we can meet their basic real needs, they will be better kids all the way. They'll learn faster and they'll be more human.

At the school, you gave a lecture to educators, in which you talked a lot about kinaesthesis.

We have a whole kinaesthetic sense. Right now you are sensing the chair you are sitting on, through your muscles and your legs. That's registering. We are continually in touch with our environment in that way . . . Kids are very kinaesthetically organized in a sense that, when I ask them, "Now you sit there and don't move," that is a very strong statement and almost impossible for a child to obey. And parents need to understand that movement is healthy . . . Kinaesthesic awareness is to be cultivated. We need to get in touch with that sense of how we're feeling right now . . .

In Japan, many people are opting not to have kids. Parents are often very isolated and have few people to share problems with. Do you think parenting is more difficult today?

A parent who decides ahead of time that this is hard, whatever it is, probably it'll be hard. If she comes in with the attitude of, "I can handle this," she is going to have a different response to the situation . . . Sure, there are ups and downs in parenting, that's the way it works. Children can be unpredictable, that's the way it works. And moms can feel overloaded, that's the way it works. The important thing is how we feel about all that. If we take it in our stride, understand it's part of the game, then that's one thing. But if we begin feeling sorry for ourselves, getting mad at somebody, then we're dealing more with our internal affairs rather than really dealing with parenting . . .

What do you think are the biggest challenges for parents today, compared to when you wrote the poem?

As far as kids and parents are concerned today, I feel like I had an easy job. I didn't have to deal with this television routine, video games and computers . . . Parents need to know what's being shown, rather than turning the child loose to watch any program he wants on TV . . . A family is a showcase in learning. Learning about each other, learning about the self, learning the rules, good living, learning what works best and what to throw out, behavior to cancel. The Japan Times: May 26, 2005

 

[mandyy]

Portugal's President Jorge Sampaio stands with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito upon his arrival for talks at the Togu Palace in Tokyo May 27, 2005. Sampaio, accompanied by his wife Maria Jose Ritta, is in Japan on a week-long visit.

 

[Genevieve]

What is the status of Masako's health? She looked happy and relaxed when saying good bye and then welcoming back the Emperor and Emperess from their European trip, but I guess it was for such a brief amount of time at the airport, it could be deceiving about the true status of her health and mental condition.

 

[mandyy]

Crown Princess reportedly showing signs of recovery

Compiled from Kyodo, AP
Crown Princess Masako, who has withdrawn from official palace duties for a year and half because of stress-induced health problems, is making a steady but slow recovery.

The former career diplomat withdrew from her official palace duties in December 2003 due to bouts of depression and anxiety set off by the pressures of palace life.

The chamberlain of Togu Palace, where the 41-year-old Crown Princess lives with Crown Prince Naruhito, told reporters Friday she is making progress "slowly but steadily."

"She now seems to regain a positive frame of mind more quickly, and we recognize that her condition has apparently improved," Hideki Hayashida told a news conference.

But Hayashida added that doctors said she should not push too hard, and it may take some time before she can resume her official duties.

Imperial Household Agency officials were not available for comment late Friday.

The couple has indicated that enormous pressure to produce a male heir was partially responsible for her condition.

Women are barred by law from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne. However, the government has begun studying an amendment that would allow an empress to reign, which would clear the way for Princess Aiko, the 3-year-old child of the Crown Prince and Princess, to succeed her father. The Japan Times: May 15, 2005

 

[mandyy]

Spanish crown prince, pregnant wife to visit Aichi Expo

Mon May 30, 2:49 PM ET

MADRID (AFP) - Spanish heir to the throne Prince Felipe and his pregnant wife Princess Letizia will embark on a four-day trip to Japan to visit the World Expo at Aichi.

The official part of the couple's trip will begin Friday, when they will attend the eighth Spanish-Japonese Forum at the Spanish embassy in Tokyo.
The spokesman added that the princess was set to accompany her husband despite the distance and the fact that she was expecting the couple's first child in November.

Later the same day they will attend a dinner at the imperial palace hosted by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

After meeting some of the Spanish community in the capital the couple will head down to Nagoya, the capital of Aichi province, which has been hosting the Expo since March 25 under the motto "Nature's wisdom."

The environmental jamboree runs to September 25.

Returning to Tokyo on Sunday, Felipe and Letizia will dine with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako at their hosts' Akasaka Palace before returnnig to Spain.

 

[mandyy]

Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana shake hands at the crown price's residence in Tokyo on June 1.