Crown Prince Naruhito and Family: News and Photos 3

[agm]

From http://www.lfi.co.uk/

[rchainho]

thanks a lot for the photos agm.:)

[micas]

Why the pics are being post in this topic?

[Elsa M.]

Originally Posted by micas

Why the pics are being post in this topic?

In order to deal with some problems of space, The Royal Forum's team has decided that, when there is an act attended by members of different Royal Houses, the photos should be posted at the thread dedicated to the receiving party.
Since this dinner was offered by Prince Naruhito and his family, you have the answer.

[mandyy]

a photo from TBS news

[mandyy]

Japan, as host of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, kicked off a week of events on June 6 to celebrate Japan Day and Japan Week at the world fair with an opening ceremony attended by Crown Prince Naruhito, honorary president of the expo, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Monday June 6, 2:24 PM

LEAD: Japan Week kicks off at Aichi Expo featuring world music

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING CROWN PRINCE'S COMMENTS IN 3RD GRAF)

Japan, as host of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, kicked off a week of events beginning Monday to celebrate Japan Day and Japan Week at the world fair, featuring concerts by Japanese jazz legend Sadao Watanabe and children from around the world.

Crown Prince Naruhito, honorary president of the expo, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi were among the guests who attended the Japan Day opening ceremony in the afternoon at the Nagakute main site, just east of Nagoya.

Japan Day "is a great opportunity to let the world know our efforts to make the earth a better place for our future generations," the crown prince said at the ceremony.

In addition to music and dance performances that represent traditional Japanese culture, the highlights are the concerts by the 72-year-old Watanabe and young musicians from Brazil, Japan, Portugal, Senegal and the United States every evening from 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The finale concerts will be held from 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. "Children and music are the best channels to get the world to forget about national borders and contemplate about global issues together," Watanabe, chief director of Japan Week at the expo, said earlier. "I want this not only to be a national day for Japan but also an international day."

[rchainho]

http://www.lavanguardia.es/web/20050...186542334.html

Masako prepares a supper for the Princes

MARIÁNGEL PALACE - 06/06/2005
TOKYO

The princes of Asturias closed their trip to Japan with a joy that arrived to them from Barcelona: the birth of the daughter of infant Cristina. Shortly before midnight (seven hours less in Spain), the airplane of the Air Force initiated the long flight towards Spain, more than 10.000 kilometers, the distance that the news del birth of the small one crossed in few seconds.

The princess, embarrassed of 16 weeks, she has surpassed the test of Japan satisfactorily without its state has given him minimum malaise. In Tokyo, and concretely in its encounter with the imperial family, Friday with the emperors, Akihito and Michiko, and yesterday, Sunday, with the heirs, Naruhito and Masako, Doña Letizia have shone dresses premother, although its state is disguised totally when it uses his habitual suits with skirt or trousers.

At night the Princess yesterday shone a set of dress and shelter red color, with steering wheels in the sleeves of clear inspiration Andalusian, to go to the palace of Akasaka, calls to account of the inheriting princes. Masako, which although officially it is recovered of the depression that suffered does not appear in public, did not accompany to Naruhito in the recibimiento the Princes, but one was in charge personally of the supper and one was even interested in the tastes of Doña Letizia to prepare the menu, that was not Japanese but of French kitchen. Masako presented/displayed to the Princes its Aiko daughter, of 4 years. The girl, to whom the prevailing sálica law in Japan prevents to happen to its father, is the only daughter of Naruhito and Masako and its future as empress depends on the promulgation of a new law that allows the access of the women to the throne of the Crisantemo.

In the evening, the Princes returned to Tokyo after traveling by Spain within the Spanish pavilion of the Expo de Aichi, located in the city of Nagoya, to 300 kilometers to the south of the Japanese capital. Don Felipe and Doña Letizia crossed part of the facilities of the universal sample that happens to those of Seville and Hannover. The Spanish pavilion, covered of hexagonal of brown, yellow and red ceramics, has its strong plate in a bar of covers and a store of Loewe, that surround the orchard by cardboard stone designed by Javier Marshal, the corner of the Quijote, other dedicated to the celebrations popular, one more to the Spanish sport and another one, the inventions. To ppríncipes they liked the pavilion or, at least, that said.

[EmpressRouge]

I got myself a copy June 1993 issue of Vanity Fair when my school was clearing out old magazine issues. In it was a detailed article about CP Masako's engagement to CP Naruhito called "Masako's Sacrifice." It was very indepth considering how the Japanese imperial family is much less in the public eye then say the Windsors. I was wondering if anyone else has read the article?

Basically the article discusses Naruhito's fears that at age 33, he was the eldest unmarried heir apparent in the family's history and how he might end up as Japan's last emperor. Before Masako, other women had also turned down Naruhito's proposal fearing the isolation and strictness of the court that had plagued Empress Michiko as CP. "...But every time the prince displayed the slightest interest, the young woman in question would deliver a polite rebuff, or marry somebody else, or threaten to commit suicide, or, in one celebrated case, flee the country without leaving a forwarding address.” It goes on to discuss how it was probably the Empress who, in a private meeting, finally convinced Masako to accept, the couple’s individual and family backrounds, the role of women in traditional Japanese society and conservative’s reservations about Masako: “Masako was too old, too tall, and, in the eyes of the Imperial Household Agency, far too ‘Americanized.’” “‘She’s Japan’s Hillary Clinton.’”

[mandyy]

Japan's Crown Prince Impressed by Bulgarian Wine

Bulgaria in Brief: 6 June 2005, Monday.

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito has visited the Bulgarian pavilion at the EXPO 2005 in Aichi, media reported on Monday. In a conversation with Bulgaria's Economy Minister Milko Kovachev, the prince has said that Bulgaria-made wine and rose oil, as well as the Bulgarian folklore have left him very impressed. Bulgarian press also says that the country's pavilion is enjoying notable interest at the major exhibition. Visitors are reportedly enjoying Bulgaria's organic foods, especially the unique yoghurt. The Bulgarian pavilion - decorated with rose petals - is also offering honey, herbs and rose-blossom marmalade.

[mandyy]

Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito waves to the crowd as he walks in front of the Spanish Pavilion at the Aichi World Expo, in Nagakute east of Nagoya, central Japan, Monday 06 June 2005. Naruhito, honorary president of the expo, and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi attended the Japan Day opening ceremony and toured the Expo site.

[agisele]

Wow. Letizia looks absolutely stunning in red. It's a real pity that we did not have a chance to see Masako.

[mandyy]

Pic #1:Crown Prince Naruhito listens to an explanation during his visit to the Japan pavilion at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture on June 6.

Pic#2:Crown Prince Naruhito (R, front) visits the Mexican pavilion at the World Exposition site in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 7.

Pic#3:Crown Prince Naruhito (2nd from R) visits the American pavilion and is briefed on the Mars probe at the World Exposition site in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 7.

Pic #4:Crown Prince Naruhito (2nd from L) visits the Yemen pavilion at the 2005 World Exposition in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 8.

Pic #5:Crown Prince Naruhito (C) tours the South Korean pavilion at the 2005 World Exposition in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 8.

Pic #6-7:Crown Prince Naruhito visits the Bhutan pavilion at the 2005 World Exposition in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on June 8.

[mandyy]

News
Crown Prince Naruhito is longing for a more productive job than waving to crowds and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, is still adjusting to being a "goldfish in a bowl," one of the commoners closest to the royal family says.

[mandyy]

Another photo of their visit to Togu Palace

[mandyy]

The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (2nd L), accompanied by his wife Sheikha Mozah (L) and his daughter Al-Mayassa (R), is wlecomed by Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito upon their arrival at the Togu Palace in Tokyo, 09 June 2005. Hamad is on a three-day visit to Tokyo.

[mandyy]

Panel gets qualified OK for female on the throne
Three of four academics told a government panel on Imperial succession Wednesday it would be acceptable to revise the current law to allow females to sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne, although two said males should be given preference.

It was the second time the advisory panel heard expert opinions; the first was at the previous meeting on May 31.

The panel, tasked with submitting a report to the government on the succession issue this fall, has been discussing a proposal to revise the 1947 Imperial House Law, which stipulates that only a male heir with emperors on his father's side can assume the throne.

The panel is discussing ways to ensure a stable Imperial succession, as the Imperial family is facing a difficult situation since no male heirs have been born since 1965.

Akinori Takamori, a visiting Takushoku University professor, said in Wednesday's session, open to the media, that succession restrictions must be eased.

"The current law has the strictest restrictions ever in history over the qualifications for Imperial succession," Takamori said. "Considering public opinion and thinking realistically, the restriction that limits succession only to heirs in the male line should be excluded."

But he said direct male descendants should have priority over elder sisters since most of Japan's 125 monarchs have been men.

Japan had eight female monarchs -- between the sixth and 18th centuries -- with two of them reigning twice. But the throne always reverted to a male from the male line.

Isao Tokoro, a professor at Kyoto Sangyo University, said there is "great significance" in the fact that Imperial succession from the male line was practiced for more than 1,000 years.

But he added it was "impossible" to continue the succession under such restrictions.

Although female monarchs should be allowed, males should be given precedence, because women can be expected to perform other "important roles," including bearing children, Tokoro said.

At the May 31 meeting, the panel was presented with four options that would allow a female to ascend the throne. They could also choose to recommend keeping the current male-only succession.

One of the options would allow the emperor's firstborn regardless of gender to take the throne. In the three other options, males would be given precedence over females.

If the system is changed to give precedence to the firstborn regardless of gender, 3-year-old Princess Aiko, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, would be second in line to the throne after her father.

If precedence is given to males, Princess Aiko would be seventh in line, after her father, his brother, Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's brother, Prince Hitachi, and three other male members of the Imperial Family.
The Japan Times: June 9, 2005