Princesses Mako, Kako and Prince Hisahito Current Events 1: July 2005 - April 2017

[Prisma]

Princess Mako visited Iwate Prefecture October 7-9 to attend the 71st National Sports Festival and to encourage those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the recent typhoon No. 10. Her agenda included:

• Attending cycling and wrestling competitions
• Visit to Iwate Museum of Art in Morioka city
• Meeting victims in Shohon Tsunami Disaster Prevention Center
• Briefing about the reconstruction situation

Photo/info: iwate-np.co.jp, Yomiuri, Sankei

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

[Prisma]

Prince Hisahito and Princess Mako en route to Empress Michiko's birthday celebrations on October 20th from Sankei Imperial Weekly #457:

http://www.sankei.com/images/news/16...220025-p15.jpg

http://www.sankei.com/images/news/16...220025-p17.jpg

ETA: Princess Kako is seated next to her brother.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvPxF0gUkAAqgqP.jpg

[Prisma]

Princess Mako visited Saga Prefecture October 21-22 for the 400th anniversary of founding Japanese porcelain. On the 21st, she visited a special exhibition of Kyushutojibunkakan and Izumiyama quarry. The next day, she attended the commemoration ceremony at Hiroshi Memorial Hall in Arita with about 360 people and living national treasure potter Inoue Yorozuni (87) gave a lecture.

Photo/info: saga-s.co.jp, chunichi.co.jp, saga-s.co.jp 2


Princess Mako celebrated her 25th birthday on October 23rd. Sankei article and photo gallery of her past year.

The customary birthday visit to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko:
https://twitter.com/yoko4684/status/790037393243971585

[Prisma]

Originally Posted by Prisma

Princess Mako visited Saga Prefecture October 21-22 for the 400th anniversary of founding Japanese porcelain. On the 21st, she visited a special exhibition of Kyushutojibunkakan and Izumiyama quarry. The next day, she attended the commemoration ceremony at Hiroshi Memorial Hall in Arita with about 360 people and living national treasure potter Inoue Yorozuni (87) gave a lecture.

Photo/info: saga-s.co.jp, chunichi.co.jp, saga-s.co.jp 2

Photo of Princess Mako giving a speech at the 400th anniversary porcelain ceremony at Sankei Imperial Weekly #458

On October 29-30th, Princess Mako made her first visit to Tottori Prefecture. She visited support facilities for persons with disabilities and attended an exchange meeting in Yonago city. Mako also learned about the recovery efforts from the recent earthquake. Tomorrow, she will attend the People with Disabilities Art Festa 2016’s opening ceremony at Yonago Convention Center.

Photo: Asahi

[iceflower]

Here's another photo of her stay at Tottori Prefecture:

On October 30 Princess Mako viewed an art exhibition of handicapped people:


** Pic **

[Prisma]

On November 13th, Princess Kako attended the “38th junior high speech national convention” at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Shibuya, Tokyo. From 550,000 applicants, 12 junior high school students were selected to make their proposals. Topics included bullying, failed family, living with deafness, and career goals.

Photos/info: Sankei, Jiji, news24.jp video

[Prisma]

There are plans for Princess Mako to officially visit Bhutan next year at the end of May to early June. Weekend events and attending the opening ceremony of the flower exhibition began last year by King Wangchuck are being considered, along with courtesy calls to the King and Queen of Bhutan and a welcome dinner.

2016 marked the 30th anniversary of Japan-Bhutan diplomatic relations. CP Naruhito and the Akishino couple have visited Bhutan; when King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited Japan in 2011, the banquet was one of Princess Mako's first public duties after coming of age.

Source: NHK

[Prisma]

Princess Kako turned 22 on December 29th and visited Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-dlaIYET8

On December 27th, the IHA officially confirmed Princess Mako will visit Bhutan for about week in June. [Sankei]

[Prisma]

On January 27th, Princess Mako met with Naoyuki Toyotoshi, Ambassador of Paraguay, and his wife.
Source: Sankei Imperial Weekly #471 page 4

[Countessmeout]

I love the Japanese royaks and how they raise their kids. they find a great balance between private lives and duties for the non heirs. These girls are well educated, mako has a great job, and yet they also represent their grandparents. Certain royal families could learn something about utilizing junior royals like grandchildren, but still encouraging them into a private life, helping a balance.

[LauraS3514]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

I love the Japanese royaks and how they raise their kids. they find a great balance between private lives and duties for the non heirs. These girls are well educated, mako has a great job, and yet they also represent their grandparents. Certain royal families could learn something about utilizing junior royals like grandchildren, but still encouraging them into a private life, helping a balance.

Unlike "certain royal families" under the current Japanese Imperial Family Law, Princesses Mako and Kako will cease to be royal once they marry and will no longer represent anyone but themselves. They will be entirely private citizens. It's a good thing that they are being allowed to find jobs they enjoy outside of the palace.

[iceflower]

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Princess Mako helped to carry out the official draw ceremony ahead of the World Group Davis Cup tie between Japan and France at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo on February 2:


** gettyimages gallery **

[Prisma]

Princess Mako attended the Davis Cup again on February 4th for the first round doubles match.
Getty Images

[Prisma]

On April 24th, the IHA announced Princess Kako will be studying aboard at Leeds University in the UK from this September to next June. She applied to the ICU (International Christian University) study aboard exchange program last October and was accepted to Leeds in March. Course subjects are undecided although she is interested in psychology and art.

This will be Princess Kako’s 3rd visit to a foreign country. She experienced a homestay in the US for about a month when she attended Gakushuin University. Kako visited Thailand with her family on an unofficial visit in 2003.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

ETA: English reports
Princess Kako to study abroad in England | Nippon TV NEWS24 JAPAN

Princess Kako to study in Britain at University of Leeds - The Mainichi

Princess Kako heading to University of Leeds in September | The Japan Times

[Prisma]

Vehicle carrying Princess Mako hits median strip, gets flat tire - The Mainichi

[...]
According to the agency, around 6 p.m. on April 26, the 41-year-old driver of a car carrying Princess Mako made a right turn at an intersection in Chiyoda Ward, but the back right tire of the car scraped the median strip and was punctured. No one in the car suffered any injuries.

In November 2016, a van carrying Prince Akishino's son Prince Hisahito and his mother Princess Kiko rear-ended another vehicle. An Imperial Household Agency representative stated that the agency intends to increase emphasis on safe driving awareness among its employees.

[iceflower]

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Time to close this thread. Thanks for all your contributions! The new thread can be found here.