Imperial Family of Japan Current Events 2: June 2008 - April 2017

[Prisma]

Members of the Imperial family attended a concert by music university graduates on March 22nd. The Empress’ shingles has improved.

news24.jp video, Getty Images, Sankei

Princesses Ayako and Hisako are harder to see as they're seated in the second row.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7k4T1gU8AUekRf.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7k4Tj8VQAARE6L.jpg

 

[Prisma]

On April 6th, the IHA announced the guest list for the spring garden party scheduled for the 20th at Akasaka Estate. About 2400 people are invited, including athletes from the Rio Olympics, contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Kumamoto Prefecture governor Ikuo Kabashima.

Sources: Asahi, Sankei

 

[Prisma]

Princesses Hanako, Hisako, and Ayako visited Okinawa April 12-14 for the 11th IKEBANA International Convention.
Sources: yaeyama-nippo.com, ryukyushimpo.jp
https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/im...19693fc0b63859d1/version/1492010567/image.jpg
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/archives/002/201704/785ff37047b5e5a3e75985cebda01d05.jpg

Princesses Hisako and Ayako visited Himeyuri Tower on the 12th.
Photo/video (requires Flash): www.qab.co.jp

Princess Hanako visited Himeyuri Tower and the National Okinawa War Cemetery in Itoman city on the 14th.
https://twitter.com/daisuke0923pax/status/852750411458985984
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/archives/002/201704/large-bae011340dc8286028e4ae6f04ed9f9d.jpg

More about the Himeyuri Student Nurse Corps at Student nurse recalls horror of Okinawa fighting | The Japan Times (2007 article) and [OFFICIAL] HIMEYURI PEACE MUSEUM

[...]222 female high school students mobilized for the Himeyuri Student Nurse Corps late that March as the battle began. Led by 18 teachers, the students aged 15 to 19 from two schools comprised the largest nursing unit of its kind in Okinawa.

During the battle, involving the biggest amphibious assault against Japan in World War II, about 200,000 lives were lost, including 120,000 civilians, or roughly one-third of the local population, as well as 15,000 American soldiers. Among the Himeyuri unit, 123 students and 13 teachers were killed.
[...]

 

[Prisma]

Spring garden party on April 20th. Lovely kimonos! CP Masako last wore a kimono at the 2003 autumn garden party.

Getty Images

Videos: NHK, news.tbs.co.jp

Screenshots via Twitter
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C91n9gdVwAEpAB8.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C910NgGVwAEVF-y.jpg

Princess Kiko repeated the kimono she wore to Italy with a different obi.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C91uaKaUMAAPaU-.jpg

 

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the links!
It is great to see Japanese Imperial Princesses in kimonos. Kimonos are masterpieces.

 

[Prisma]

You're welcome!

Mainichi and Sankei Imperial Weekly #483 have a few different photos of the garden party.

Asahi reports CP Masako spoke to guests for about 10 minutes and then withdrew.

Princess Mako:
http://www.sankei.com/images/news/170422/prm1704220035-p8.jpg

CP Naruhito and CP Masako via Jiji:
http://www.jiji.com/news/kiji_photos/0170420at55_p.jpg

Imperial couple praise Olympic medalists at garden party: The Asahi Shimbun

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted their spring garden party in Tokyo on April 20 in which they greeted Rio Olympics gold medalists, who were among about 2,000 people in attendance.

“You must be proud of your accomplishment,” the emperor said to kimono-clad Kaori Icho, who won gold in the 58-kilogram women's wrestling division last August.

[…]

Michiko congratulated Ai Fukuhara, who won a bronze medal in the women’s table tennis team competition, on her marriage in September and commended her for leading the contingent superbly.

“You did a great job as captain,” the empress said.

Turning to Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima, the emperor said, “Please take care of yourself and help and work for residents.”

[…]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvcAHK8EquY

Emperor Akihito’s elder sister Atsuko Ikeda attended the garden party at Okayama Korakuen Garden on April 20th. The event is sponsored by the Okayama Chamber of Commerce and Industry; about 300 people from the prefecture’s political, business, and cultural circles attended.

Photo: Getty Image, sanyonews.jp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAGaCOaC-Uk

 

[iceflower]

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