Imperial Family of Japan: Current Events July 2005 - May 2008

[merampo]

Garden Party at the Akasaka Imperial Garden on April 27, 2006.

 

[mandyy]

Empress Michiko, Prince and Princess Akishino, Princess Hanako of Hitachi, and Princess Hisako of Takamado all attended the event together.

Bigger photo from Yomiuri news (March 29, 2006)

 

[mandyy]

Photo of Prince Tomohito and his daughter Princess Yohko at the Imperial garden party on April 27, 2006 from FNN news.
http://imageshack.us

 

[mandyy]

Emperor, empress greet Olympic gold medalist Arakawa at palace
................"I believe that many people felt deeply touched and encouraged by your performance," the emperor said in the Rensui dining room of the palace where he met the athletes.
The 45 people invited Friday included Japan team captain Tomomi Okazaki, who placed fourth in the women's 500-meter speed skating event, and alpine skier Kentaro Minagawa, who also placed fourth in the men's slalom. After the emperor greeted the athletes, they chatted with Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino as well as the imperial couple in a happy atmosphere.................
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060512/kyodo/d8hi0fh82.html

Other than the Emperor and Empress, Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino, Prince Hitachi and Princess Hanako also participated at the event.

#1: Yomiuri news-Emperor Akihito (R) talks with Shizuka Arakawa, Turin Olympics figure skating gold medalist, at a reception at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 12. Some 45 athletes and officials of the Japanese Turin Olympic team were invited to the reception.
#2: ANN news
#3: Profimedia- In this photo released by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Emperor Akihito, right, greets Turin Olympic gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa as the emperor and Empress Michiko, not shown, host a tea party for the figure skater and other Winter Olympic athletes at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Friday, May 12, 2006.

 

[mandyy]

Photo from the Imperial Garden Party on April 27, 2006.

from kunaicho website

 

[mandyy]

Photos posted by fanletizia of the event on May 12, 2006.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/435275-post132.html

 

[mandyy]

Japanese Empress Michiko is followed by Princess Kiko, wife of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's second son Prince Akishino, after greeting guests at an annual Red Cross general meeting in Tokyo Thursday, May 25, 2006. Princess Kiko is expecting her third child in September.

Princess Hanako of Hitachi and Princess Hisako of Takamado also participated at the event.

#1-2: polfoto
#3-5: Reuters
#4: Princess Hanako is seen in centre and Princess Hisako is seen in the far right.

 

[mandyy]

#1: with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Somare
#2: Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko waveas they send off Pacific islands' leaders after they held a meeting at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 25 May 2006.
#3: In this photo released 25 May 2006 by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Emperor Akihito, (3L), accompanied by Empress Michiko, (R)greets Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Michael Somare, (2L)- during a tea party to welcome participants to a Pacific islands summit meeting between Japan and members of Pacific Islands Forum at the Imperial Palace in Japan is hoping to rebuild support in the Pacific with promises of fresh aid at a weekend summit of Pacific island leaders as China also tries to expand its influence in the region.

Prince Naruhito also attended the tea party.

#1-3: Profimedia
#4: Mainichi news

 

[LEAR]

Thank you for all of the pics.
I missed almost of the news, although I am living in Japan.

 

[mandyy]

Kunaicho have updated some new photos

Japanese Empress Michiko is followed by Princess Kiko, wife of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's second son Prince Akishino, after greeting guests at an annual Red Cross general meeting in Tokyo Thursday, May 25, 2006. Princess Kiko is expecting her third child in September.

Princess Hanako of Hitachi and Princess Hisako of Takamado also participated at the event.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko holds a tea party for Pacific islands' leaders at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 25 May 2006.

In the above photo, you can see Prince Naruhito and Prince and Princess Hitachi on the right standing along with Empress Michiko

 

[puresnow]

Very nice pictures. thanks for the information.

 

[mandyy]

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko holds a tea party for Pacific islands' leaders at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 25 May 2006.

3 more from Profimedia

 

[mandyy]

The newest issue of the "Our Imperial Family" features Princess Kiko's pregnancy and the Emperor and Empress' visit to Miyake island
images from fusosha
#1: the cover
#2: the table of contents of the Magazine

 

[mandyy]

Photos from May 25, 2006 from Yomiuri news.



Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko talk with winners of Japan Art Academy awards at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 26.
Prince Naruhito also attended the event.
From Kyodo via Newscom

 

[mandyy]

Princess Hanako of Hitachi hosted a gathering for female Imperial Family members at her residence. Princess Masako, Kiko and also Sayako Kuroda attended the event on June 30, 2006.
Image from TBS news

 

[ropura]

Its very nice for Sayako Kuroda that she attended hosted gathering with the Imperial Family at the residence of Princes Hanako of Hitachi.
I am happy for her and the Imperial Family,that Sayako still member of them.

Ropura.

 

[mandyy]

Photo from Kunaicho
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko talk with winners of Japan Art Academy awards at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 26.

 

[mandyy]

From Kunaicho
July 3, 2006.
Emperor and Empress, Prince Naruhito and Princess Hisako of Takamado attended the event.

 

[mandyy]

4,600 dignitaries attend ex-premier Hashimoto's funeral
About 4,600 local and foreign dignitaries, including South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon and Palau President Tommy Remengesau, attended the funeral of former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Tuesday.
The attendees also included members of the Japanese imperial family including Crown Prince Naruhito and prominent business and political leaders................
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060808/kyodo/d8jc6cc01.html

from the Kunaicho website it stated that Prince Akishino also attended the funeral

 

[mandyy]

Japan's princesses find different fates
Tokyo - Both are commoners who married into the world's oldest monarchy. But while former career woman Crown Princess Masako struggles to cope, housewife Kiko seems to relish the chance to be an emperor's mother.
Gossip media have intensely compared the two princesses and their husbands as 39-year-old Kiko prepares Wednesday to have her third child, which could give Japan its first male heir in four decades.
Masako, a US-educated former diplomat, withdrew from the public spotlight in late 2003, a decade after marrying Crown Prince Naruhito at age 29. She is under intense pressure to bear a boy as the couple's only child is a girl.
However, Kiko, who married Naruhito's younger brother Akishino when she was 23, is reputed to have adjusted well with help from Empress Michiko, herself the first commoner to marry into the household.
Speculation of sibling rivalry emerged in 2004 when Naruhito accused royal minders of stifling Masako's personality and his younger brother rebuked him for his unprecedented public criticism.
Hideo Shinozawa, professor emeritus of Gakushuin University, a private college that educates young royals, said he could see the brothers' differences emerge from how they were raised...............
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30012735

 

[RhapsodyBrat]

the Japanese monarchy is on the cover of this week's Time Asia:

http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501060904/
The Future of Japan's Monarchy
Will a baby end Japan's royal succession crisis, or put new strains on the monarchy?

 

[bekalc]

Can I say that I think no matter what happens its nice that the Emperor and Empress get a little grandson!

 

[mandyy]

The prince of conmen who lost his crown
THE wedding reception of Prince Satohito Arisugawa, kinsman of the Japanese Emperor and scion of an ancient aristocratic house, was everything an imperial marriage ought to be.

The venue was an exclusive Tokyo club known as a haunt of royalty. Prince Arisugawa was splendid in his black military uniform and glittering medals. About 350 guests, including actors, politicians and TV celebrities, presented the traditional Japanese wedding gift — envelopes of banknotes.
True, most of the assembled guests did not know the couple, there were no other members of the Imperial Family there, and in her junihitoe, a twelve-layered kimono worn by court ladies in the 10th century, the bride was perhaps a little overdressed — even for a princess. NI_MPU('middle');
But it was only when journalists got hold of the story a few weeks later that the guests realised the truth: Prince Arisugawa, the man to whom they had collectively given 13 million yen (£60,000), was actually Yasuyuki Kitano, the son of a greengrocer who formerly worked as a security guard and caretaker....
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2353026,00.html

 

[mandyy]

Imperial household M.D. to head Science Council
Ichiro Kanazawa was elected new chairman of the Science Council of Japan at the council's general assembly Monday....He has been the medical supervisor to the Imperial household since 2002....
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20061003TDY02005.htm

 

[Toledo]

Teenage trooper's suicide reveals the darker side of the Imperial Guard
October 6, 2006

below are some quotes taken from the article:

...Tragedy struck Akasaka Palace, the home of Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino and their families, when a 19-year-old Imperial Guard member was found in a toilet with a fatal gunshot wound, according to Shukan Bunshun (10/12).

...The young guard was on duty from 8:30 until the following morning. He was on guard at the main gate of the Togo Palace from 9 a.m., watching over as Crown Prince Naruhito left to take Princess Aiko to kindergarten," an Imperial Police insider tells Shukan Bunshun.

...When the guard was found, Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako were inside Togo Palace just 70 meters away, and Princess Aiko was eating her lunch at Gakushuin Kindergarten. The guard was rushed to a hospital for treatment at nearby Keio Hospital, but confirmed dead shortly after arrival....

 

[mandyy]

Photo of Masako and Kiko together at the sports meet in Gakushuin Primary School on Oct. 14th, 2006. Kiko and her husband Prince Akishino were there to support their younger daughter Kako who participated at the sports meet. Masako and Aiko were also supporters.


from www.yuko2ch.net

 

[merampo]

Photo of Masako and Kiko together at the sports meet in Gakushuin Primary School on Oct. 14th, 2006. Kiko and her husband Prince Akishino were there to support their younger daughter Kako who participated at the sports meet. Masako and Aiko were also supporters.

at the same event
2rincess Kako

 

[Emily]

Kiko, understandably, looks exhausted. I have never seen her so disheveled looking. Not blaming in the least -- these are just interesting pictures for their 'sports mom watching event' quality. I find them refreshing. Very nice to see the two sisters-in-law together.

The other thing I find interesting is that I have always thought Masako to be so much bigger than Kiko and yet they are the same size. I always thought Kiko was really tiny - they both are!

 

[mandyy]

The Emperor and Empress hosted a tea party today on Nov. 6th, 2006 for recent recipients of this year's semiannual award ceremony. Prince Naruhito and Princess Yohko of Mikasa also attended the tea party held at the Imperial Palace.

Video from TBS news & ANN news (will expire soon)
Photo from JIJI press and Asahi news

 

[mandyy]

Emperor, empress chat with celebrities at annual garden party
Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko chatted Thursday with Softbank Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh and other celebrities at an annual autumn garden party held at Tokyo's Akasaka Estate. Crown Prince Naruhito, the emperor's eldest son, Prince Akishino, the younger son, and his wife Princess Kiko also attended the gathering, which was the princess' first official duty since she gave birth to Prince Hisahito on Sept. 6. The crown prince's wife, Crown Princess Masako, was absent from the event.......
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061109/kyodo/d8l9ildg0.html

Emperor Akihito, second from left, accompanied by Empress Michiko, left, greets Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura, second from right, and his wife, Takako, during the autumn garden party hosted by the Japanese monarch at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2006. Tanimura, a professor at Shanghai Music University, was among 2,100 guests invited to the annual garden
From AP
1

Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh (2nd R) bows his head before Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) during the annual autumn garden party in Tokyo, November 9, 2006. At right is Tokyo Stock Exchange President Taizo Nishimuro.
From Reuters
1
2
3

Other photos from JIJI press, Polfoto, and Yomiuri news

Video from ANN news (will expire soon)
Princess Kiko also attended the garden party held today. She wore a brown suit.

Photos from Getty images and Profimedia