Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko Current Events Part 2: November 2006 - April 2017

[Prisma]

Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, and Prince Hisahito visited Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, and Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture on December 6th. The family is on a private trip during Prince Hisahito’s school break.

Photos: Asahi, Mainichi

Japan's Prince Hisahito visits Nagasaki atomic bomb sites | The Japan Times
This article fails to mention the CP family also observes moments of silence on anniversaries of "the end of WWII, Okinawa Memorial Day, and the days when the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed."

 

[Prisma]

On December 10th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended Gagaku and martial arts performances at Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Tokyo. The event promoted Japanese traditional culture for embassy people in Japan ahead of Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic and Paralympics Games. 2020 will also be the shrine’s 100th anniversary.

Photos: nishinippon.co.jp, Yomiuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xy1VjX50_k

 

[iceflower]

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Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko watched artworks at the 'Seven Daring Years: Odano Naotake and Akita Ranga' exhibition at Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo on December 12:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **

 

[Al_bina]

... [snipped]
Photos: nishinippon.co.jp, Yomiuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xy1VjX50_k

Thanks for the video!
Martial art performance was impressive. As were costumes of artists.

 

[Prisma]

On December 19th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko visited the special exhibition "Lascaux: The Cave Paintings of the Ice Age" at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park, Tokyo. Mainichi and Tokyo Broadcasting System Television are sponsors of the exhibition which runs from November 1, 2016 to February 19, 2017.

Sources: Mainichi 1, Mainichi 2, news.tbs.co.jp video, Getty Images

Special Exhibition "Lascaux: The Cave Paintings of the Ice Age" (November 1, 2016 - February 19, 2017) -National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo-

 

[Prisma]

On December 24th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the Japan Student Science Award Ceremony at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Getty Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzlHO38QYKc

 

[Prisma]

The government is expected to invite Prince and Princess Akishino to the 6th anniversary of the government sponsored Great East Japan Earthquake memorial service on March 11th. The Emperor and Empress attended the past 5 years and it has been decided that’s enough.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

I wonder why the government didn't consider inviting CP Naruhito.

ETA: Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the National Convention for Traffic Safety at Bunkyo Civic Hall on January 20th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_tkffaTo2g

 

[Tatiana Maria]

I wonder why the government didn't consider inviting CP Naruhito.

I wonder if it foreshadows the Akishinos taking over the emperor and empress's visits to disaster-stricken areas.

 

[Prisma]

Possibly although I think CP Naruhito will also visit disaster areas.

Mainichi's report about the Akishinos invite to the 2011 memorial included the attendance record for 1995's Great Hanshin Earthquake memorials:

• CP Naruhito and CP Masako attended the 1st and 15th anniversary
• Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended 2nd - 4th anniversaries
• CP Naruhito attended the 5th anniversary
• Emperor and Empress attended the 10th and 20th anniversaries

Princess Kiko attended the Tokyo International Quilt Festival at Tokyo dome on January 19th.
Sankei photo

 

[iceflower]

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Prince Akishino visited the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama on January 24:


** ppe **

 

[Prisma]

On January 23rd, Princess Kiko attended the "meeting of mothers who brought up hearing impaired children" at the Constitution Memorial Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

https://twitter.com/drhearingjp/status/823786939107012608
news.tbs.co.jp video

 

[Prisma]

On February 3rd, Prince Akishino visited the 66th Kanto Tokai Flower Exhibition.

Photos: shimotsuke.co.jp

 

[iceflower]

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Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko and Princess Mako viewed a special exhibition of the Kasuga Taisha Shrine at the Tokyo National Museum today, February 6:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

 

[Prisma]

video at Yomiuri and 2 less watermarked photos at Getty Images
The museum visit lasted about an hour and a half.

On February 8th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended "The 13th Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Awards and the Japan Academy of Science Awards Award Ceremony and Memorial Tea Party"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njw-6TxZel4

 

[iceflower]

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Princess Kiko attended in antituberculosis workshop in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo on February 13:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

 

[Prisma]

On February 14th, Prince Akishino visited the Japan Monkey Center in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture. He is President of the Japanese Arboretum Aquarium Association and also attended the Zoo Technician Study Group.

Photo: Yomiuri

 

[Prisma]

On February 17th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko visited the 100 Female Calligraphers Exhibition at Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store in Chuo, Tokyo.

Photos 10-12 at Sankei Imperial Weekly #474 or Getty Images

 

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the update!
Japanese calligraphy is like a poetry. It is ethereal.

On a different note, the lady, who accompanied the couple, has an amazing kimono.

 

[Prisma]

On February 20th, Princess Kiko and Princess Mako worshipped at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. Repairs are done every 20 years; the main shrine’s restoration was completed last year.

Photo: Sankei
https://twitter.com/SankeiNews_WEST/status/833611610098855940

ETA:
http://www.saga-s.co.jp/images/article/2017/02/20/SAG2017022001001751_id1_20170220065543.jpg
Yomiuri

 

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the update!
It is nice to see Princess Mako joining her mother to undertake an engagement. I am surprised by pastel-coloured outfits. Don't Imperial Princesses wear grey dresses for temples?

 

[Prisma]

My guess is the shrine or type of visit determines the color but I don’t know for sure. It seems ivory or cream are usually worn for visits to Shimogamo, Meiji, and Ise Shrines. Grey or black to mausoleums and grave sites.

Ise is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu; Shimogamo and Kasuga Taisha are dedicated to other Shinto deities; Meiji is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

Princesses Akiko and Yoko wore lavender to Yasukuni Shrine which commemorates the war dead. Half-mourning?
https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpress.com/2015/04/22/yasukuni-shrine/

Princess Akiko wore pale blue to the enshrinement of Prince Katsura’s spirit.
Sankei Imperial Weekly #387

Princess Kako wore a cream suit, instead of a long dress, to Akama Shrine that's dedicated to Emperor Antoku.
https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/yamagata-visit-of-princess-kako/

CP Masako wore pink to Ise Shrine in 1993 when she and CP Naruhito announced their marriage to the ancestral gods of the Imperial family. Getty Images

 

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the detailed explanations!
Wearing grey colours for mausoleums and grave sites makes sense.

 

[Prisma]

On March 10th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended a memorial service for over 100,000 victims of the 1945 Great Tokyo Air Raid.

Photos: Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJpAJ_5DRDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXcjZxqHrCM
On March 8th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended "The 7th Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Awards ceremony and memorial tea party."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_OVpF--XY

 

[iceflower]

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Today, March 11, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the government-sponsored memorial service in Tokyo on the sixth anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters in northeastern Japan.



** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

Thanks!

SIX YEARS AFTER: Abe and Prince Fumihito attend event to mark 2011 disaster: The Asahi Shimbun

Many still struggling 6 years after quake, nuclear disaster - The Mainichi

[...]
Prince Akishino said his "heart aches deeply" when he thinks about those who are unable to return to their homes due to high levels of radiation.

"It is the hope of us all that each and every one of those who are in a difficult situation will not be forgotten or left behind and the day will come when they will once again live in peace and quiet."

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who were not present at this year's memorial service having attended since 2012, offered a moment of silence at their residence, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
[...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qf0kzhUpAA
Full memorial service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kiSp2_mUWU

 

[Prisma]

On March 21st, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko visited graves of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun at the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachiōji, Tokyo.

Source: page 2 of Sankei Imperial Weekly #479

 

[Prisma]

Photo surfaced of their Musashi Imperial Mausoleum visit at https://twitter.com/sdu2pck2/status/847071370991157250

On March 29th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the "Cambodia-Japan Joint Dance Cultural Performance" (sponsored by Asahi Shimbun) at Sumida Triphony Hall in Sumida, Tokyo. One of dance groups has Princess Norodom Boppadevi of Cambodia as its honorary president.
Source: Asahi

 

[Prisma]

On April 10th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended "The 26th Global Environment Grand Prize" award ceremony and reception.

Photos: Sankei

 

[iceflower]

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Prince Akihisno and Princess Kiko visited the Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum in Maizuru, Kyoto on April 21:


** Pic **

 

[Prisma]

They also visited Repatriation Pier in Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan.
Getty Images

On April 26th, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the "National Urban Greening Festival Heisei 29th" in Naka Ward, Yokohama City. After the ceremony, they planted trees at Yamashita Park.
Photos: Asahi, Sankei