Press Conference by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince on the Occasion of His Birthday
20 February 2003
Question 3
Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko is growing up steadily. At present, her life revolves around the Togu Palace, but please tell us how you would like for her to interact with children of her own age as you bring her up. What are your thoughts about a second child?
Answer 3
Thanks to the help of all those concerned, Princess Aiko is growing up steadily and free of illness. We believe it is very important for children to mix with other children of their own age group. Honestly speaking, Princess Aiko is in an environment that makes it difficult for her to interact with the outside world, and I think that this will prove to be one of our big challenges. But we have on occasion arranged this kind of opportunity, and we would like to arrange more such opportunities in the future. When Princess Aiko comes into contact with a child of her age or slightly older, her expression and behavior are absolutely wonderful―this is true of the other children too of course―and it makes me think that there is something that children understand among themselves. We are grateful that the Crown Prince's Household also recognizes importance of this.
In addition, and I may have said this before, we believe it is very important that parents consistently and fully show their affection during a child’s infancy, as this will affect the child’s life afterwards. We will concentrate on that for the time being, and leave the thought of brothers or sisters for later.
If I could take this opportunity to add a little more on the subject, through giving the princess a bath, taking her for walks or giving her baby food, I myself feel a strong bond with my child. There appears to be debate across the country about alleviating the burden of raising children for mothers, but the help of fathers in raising children wherever possible not only lightens the burden on mothers, but it is also a very good way for fathers to strengthen their relation with their children. I also strongly hope that the various systematized efforts that have been taken to lighten the burden on mothers will contribute to the wellbeing of children too.
Question 4
Last December, Your Imperial Highnesses went together on your first goodwill visit in approximately eight years. You used to say that “Overseas visits are decided by the Government. If there is a request (for us to make an overseas visit...)” but prior to this visit, you said, “I hope that in the future there will be more frequent occasions for the two of us to visit foreign countries together.” Please tell us, on this occasion, about what you think about visits to foreign countries, including your impression of what Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess said about “the fact that it was rather difficult to make visits abroad was something that required a great effort on my part to adapt to.”
Answer 4
I think that overseas goodwill visits are an important task for the Imperial Family. I have long understood that fostering friendly relations with foreign countries holds a significant place among the expectations that Japanese people have of the Imperial Household. As means of transport have advanced, the world has become smaller and smaller, and this has been accompanied by increased interaction between people. I believe that interactions between people eventually lead to the development of good relations between countries, and in that context, knowledge of the world is extremely important. This is not something that can be achieved overnight, but something that one builds up through making overseas visits. Late last year, the two of us were able to visit both New Zealand and Australia, and this was a wonderful opportunity in terms of broadening our knowledge. In this respect, I think the more such opportunities one has while young, the better. Of course, all of the above is on the condition that the Government takes a decision about our overseas visits.
Concerning Princess Masako, considering that she once had the ambition of working as a diplomat on the international scene, I think that being unable to make overseas goodwill visits for a number of years was very difficult for her. I feel that she has shown great forbearance in this.
Question 5
It will soon be ten years since your marriage. What kind of decade was this for you? What do Your Imperial Highnesses talk about on a regular basis in terms of the role of the Imperial Family in the future?
Answer 5
On the one hand, I feel that it has already been ten years; on the other hand, I feel that it has only been ten years. I think that these ten years were a time during which I was able to look at myself through marriage, which was a new experience, and grow as a person as well.
I am grateful that we have been given a precious gift as we approach our tenth year of marriage. I am grateful that Princess Masako has helped me in many respects and has been a source of strength. I think that this has been a time of much joy and happiness, because the two of us, and recently the three of us, gained much experience, understood each other and supported each other.
In regard to the role of the Imperial Family, I have spoken of this in the past, but I will attend to my duties while helping His Majesty the Emperor and thinking about what I am able to do myself. I would like to be a part of the young generation, to which I believe I still belong, of the Imperial Family, by being sensitive to modern ways, while valuing what has been passed down from generation to generation. I would like to undertake activities which befit the Imperial Family in the 21st century while constantly searching for the ideal attitude as a member of the young generation of the Imperial Family.
I think that there are many significant issues, and I hope that the two of us can be involved in advancing mutual understanding between people of different countries and in environmental issues, both of which are important for promoting world peace, and in creating a society where children can grow up in good health, which is indispensable for seeking the happiness of the Japanese people and the rest of humanity.