The following are excerpts of The Yomiuri Shimbun's interview with Princess Hisako.
Q: You also have devoted yourself to environmental protection.
A: Prince Takamado and myself were interested in this from the beginning. At first, Prince Takamado thought it would be difficult for the Imperial family to become involved in the issue as it related to politics to a certain extent.
However, after careful consideration, he concluded he could express his basic ideas on the issue. For example, in a talk about birds, I might say it would be nice if we could prevent them from becoming extinct as we cannot revive them once they die off.
Q: Do you feel Prince Takamado is always with you?
A: As he died so suddenly, I don't feel he is far from me. I feel as if he will return soon, even today. As I had a lot of opportunities to listen to his ideas, I and my clerical staff would think about what Prince Takamado would do in such and such a case. I don't really think of it as being 10 years [since he died]. I feel the years only when I consider our daughters' age.
Q: Princess Tsuguko was 16, Princess Noriko was 14 and Princess Ayako was 12 at that time.
A: After Prince Takamado died, I was worried about our daughters and cared for them as much as possible. But I was surprised to learn recently that they were worried about me. They used to wonder, "Do you think mother is OK, as she isn't sleeping much and has lost weight?" Children are reliable, although parents tend to regard them as too young.
Q: Is your position as the head of a branch of the Imperial family a heavy load?
A: Yes, it is. Unlike the time when Prince Takamado was the head, I have to make decisions in everything. I also considered balancing the position with that of a mother.
I told my daughters that once a father dies in a family with children, the mother must work to support the family. When I told them I would be absent from home more frequently as I had to do what their father did, they told me it was natural. [...]
