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09-13-2019, 05:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisma
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Princess Akiko really is a fount of knowledge, isn't she?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ista
I'm so sorry to hear about Princess Nobuko's fall and spinal fracture, and wish her a speedy and complication free recovery.
Considering the weight of the junihitoe that is worn for the enthronement, I am extremely skeptical about whether participating in the enthronement is going to be possible for Princess Nobuko. Whatever decision is made, I hope that she isn't pressured to do, or chooses to do, anything that will affect her long term health.
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That's a point I hadn't thought of. Would it be possible to adapt the junihitoe to be lighter and less cumbersome?
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09-13-2019, 10:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria
Princess Akiko really is a fount of knowledge, isn't she?
That's a point I hadn't thought of. Would it be possible to adapt the junihitoe to be lighter and less cumbersome?
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The version that is currently worn is already considerably lighter than earlier versions, so I'm not sure. I think the long walk to the enthronement chamber might present the largest issue, and the most serious pressure on Princess Nobuko's back. I'm sure there is currently a lot of discussion about how to handle this; it will be interesting to see what happens.
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09-14-2019, 01:53 AM
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Maybe Princess Nobuko will skip the enthronement and attend the banquets and other events? Another option would be to wear the junihitoe and use a wheelchair. Instead of walking in the procession, an IHA staff could wheel her into the state room.
However, I suspect the IHA prefers uniformity or a certain aesthetic. Princess Takamatsu was accommodated in 1990. Her back was fine but she couldn't stand through the whole ceremony so she walked in and a chair was brought for her. Well, she was also in the 2nd row, hidden behind Princess Kiko...
Princess Nobuko seems eager for public service. In 2015, she attended events for the 70th National Sports Festival in a wheelchair a few days after braking her right ankle. [ Facebook photos]
On August 20th, Princess Akiko and Shinyusha participants weeded the rice fields they planted in Niigata Prefecture in May. They had rice and a special pork soup for lunch.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/shinyusha/p...85053031609528
ETA: more photos of Princess Nobuko's visit to Ibaraki Prefecture May 28-29 at http://shimodate.jp/princessnobuko.htm
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09-16-2019, 01:55 AM
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Sankei's 5-part interview with Princess Akiko in June 2015, 3 years after Prince Tomohito's passing.
Sankei Part 1:
- Princesses Akiko and Yoko inherited their father's public service (international exchange, youth development, social welfare, sports promotion)
- At first, Akiko tried to act as her father's representative before realizing she should be herself
- Most of her public service experience had been with her father
- Akiko felt her father was more of a senior in life than a parent and child [relationship]
- She doesn't remember Prince Tomohito attending her school events when she was younger. Perhaps because he was busy with public service and he may not have been interested in children who could not join in discussions
- Akiko has stronger memories of her father after she entered high school and they had deeper discussions
- She's heard of her father drinking in his hotel room for a long time
- Even though he was her father, he was an Imperial royal so she thought it was natural to speak in honorifics / formal language. She uses the formal version of father "chichi" 父. When Akiko went to a friend's house, she was shocked to hear her friend use the less formal version of father "otosan" お父さん
- Prince Tomohito often paid attention to clothes, even when traveling privately. At the time, Akiko thought it troublesome but now she thinks it’s natural for the Imperial family to be aware of when, where, and by whom. Although she didn’t feel it as a kid, now that she has more opportunities to interact with many people, Akiko sometimes feels her father’s influence and what he said.
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09-18-2019, 04:01 AM
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On September 16 (I think?)
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A reception with the participation of Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko was held on the occasion of establishment of "Prince Mikasa Foundation Support Group" that is foreseen to function in Japan to support "Prince Mikasa Foundation"
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https://twitter.com/EmbassyTokyo/sta...82729529782272
In September, Princess Akiko attended the 2019 Prince Mikasa Awards (dancing)
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/richard.gle...25627697470255
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09-24-2019, 03:43 AM
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On September 23rd, Princess Yoko attended a ceremony celebrating the completion of "Hand Stamp Art Project" at the Children's Miraikan in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture.
The project collected 100,000 handprints and footprints of children with illnesses and disabilities to display at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic venues. Princess Yoko is special advisor to the project.
Photos:
https://www.tonichi.net/news/index.php?id=77140
www.higashiaichi.co.jp
https://www.facebook.com/tokuya.ito/...10721409013739
ETA: The IHA announced Princess Nobuko was discharged from Keio University Hospital on September 24. She has recovered enough to walk but public service is suspended until early next month in order to work on rehabilitation for the enthronement ceremony.
Source: Sankei
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09-28-2019, 04:05 AM
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Unfortunately, Mikasa and Takamado news will be harder to find because Asahi changed how they report the Imperial schedule. They stopped updating the calendar and switched to a restricted article format, example: Imperial schedule 9/23-29. Full access requires an Asahi account. 
Anyway, I'm trying to piece together Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko's visits to Ibaraki Prefecture for the 74th National Sports Festival.
Princess Akiko
Sep 29: triathlon in Itako city, Prefectural University of Medicine and hospital in Ami town, karate competition
Sep 30: wrestling competition in Mito city, softball in Shimotsuma city, and local history museum in Sakuragawa city
Sources:
www.city.itako.lg.jp
www.town.ami.lg.jp
Ami town council member's blog
www.city.mito.lg.jp
www.city.shimotsuma.lg.jp
www.city.sakuragawa.lg.jp
Princess Yoko visits October 1-2, including a rugby football match in Mito city on the 2nd.
On September 7th, Princess Yoko attended the Prince Tomohito Trophy 19th Kendo 8th-dan Selection Tournament at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.
https://twitter.com/141staff/status/1170305490967879680
Princess Yoko appears at 5:56 and several times later
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10-05-2019, 12:27 AM
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10-06-2019, 08:27 PM
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Part 2 of Princess Akiko’s 2015 interview with Sankei.
- Discussions with grandfather Prince Mikasa about the past, his military experience, teaching at university, etc.
- She often learns of Imperial customs/traditions from Princess Yuriko and what they mean.
- For example, hats were introduced during the Meiji era and the Imperial family continues to follow the etiquette that hats are worn until 4pm because after 4pm, there’s no need to protect against the sun.
- There was another interview about the decreasing Imperial family members. Her comment that “a decision should be made as soon as possible” on female Imperial branches provoked some controversy.
- Akiko wishes to clarify the misunderstanding because a considerable part was omitted at that time. While any decision should made after thorough discussions, she would like people to understand it is very difficult for a female Imperial family member who must change her life design depending on that decision.
- When her father was alive, Akiko discussed this issue with her sister Yoko. They had been raised under the premise that they would leave the Imperial family on marriage. Whether or not that main premise will go away is a big consideration for an Imperial princess. For now, Akiko continues to fulfill her duties.
Part 3
Background: 70 years after WWII. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko continue to make condolence/consolation visits across Japan and abroad, such as Palau in 2015.
- She’s very grateful Their Majesties have been making the pilgrimages. The visits can lead to more healing.
Background: Princesses Akiko and Yoko worship at Yasukuni Shrine, following their grandfather Prince Mikasa and Prince Tomohito.
- As her generation never experienced war or post-war recovery, Prince Tomohito encouraged her to learn about the past like talking to grandparents and visiting museums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Akiko believes we must pass on history.
Background: Prince Mikasa was dispatched to Nanjing, China in 1943-1944. He married Yuriko Takagi in October 1941 and their first child, a daughter, Yasuko was born in April 1944. Yuriko was pregnant with Prince Tomohito at the end of the war.
- Because their wedding happened during wartime, Princess Yuriko wore the less formal "kouchigi" instead of junihitoe.
- There were difficult times immediately after the end of war. Prince and Princess Mikasa lived in a rented house, on a very small budget.
- To keep their spirits up, Prince Mikasa recommended dancing.
Background: Prince Tomohito attended the National Self-Defense Forces award ceremony, a duty Princess Akiko took over in 2013.
- Her father had always been drawn to the SDF.
- When the 2011 earthquake and tsunami happened and Imperial family visited victims, Prince Tomohito also visited the SDF.
- She doesn’t feel awkward about taking over the award ceremony because she’s been familiar with SDF since childhood.
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10-13-2019, 01:49 AM
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On September 22nd, Princess Akiko and 30 students from Kokugakuin University harvested rice with farmers in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. The rice workshop was hosted by Shinyusha and a portion of the harvest will be dedicated to Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/shinyusha/p...40378969410267
David Chart's article about transferring Japan's culture to the next generation, mainly about Shinyusha. He's a UK-born, naturalized Japanese citizen and his website Mimusubi provides English-language information about Shinto. He and his daughter have attended several of Princess Akiko's workshops.
To The Next Generation - Mimusubi
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10-19-2019, 05:06 AM
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On September 28th, Princess Akiko and her cultural organization Shinyusha hosted a dashi workshop at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. Participants learned about the soup, shaved Katsuobushi, tasted different types of dashi, and enjoyed a meal.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/shinyusha/p...56596107788553
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10-19-2019, 09:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisma
On September 28th, Princess Akiko and her cultural organization Shinyusha hosted a dashi workshop at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. Participants learned about the soup, shaved Katsuobushi, tasted different types of dashi, and enjoyed a meal.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/shinyusha/p...56596107788553 |
I am constantly intrigued by the interesting projects and workshops Princess Akiko and Shinyusha organize. There wouldn't be Japanese cuisine as we know it without dashi, so it's well worth learning about! The enjoying a meal part of the workshop would be the best , though.
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10-24-2019, 07:35 AM
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Princess Yoko attended the opening ceremony of the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019 in Tokyo today, October 24:
** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **
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10-25-2019, 01:25 AM
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10-28-2019, 03:26 AM
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10-29-2019, 04:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prisma
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 Getty Images
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10-30-2019, 03:22 AM
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On October 24th, Princess Akiko attended an event in Tokyo where an agreement was announced to establish Rugby School Japan.
https://www.rugbyschooljapan.com/ass...JAPAN.docx.pdf
Quote:
At the reception on October 24 head master Peter Green announced that heads of terms had been signed with an operating partner in Japan to enable the foundations to be laid for Rugby School Japan.
The school, set to open in 2022, will make history as the the first British independent school to open a sister school in Japan.
[...]
The school (the equivalent of a combined junior high school and a high school in Japan) will have the capacity to educate 750 boys and girls, both as day students and boarders.
[...]
At an event in Tokyo, attended by Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko; His Excellency Mr Paul Madden, CMG, the British Ambassador; representatives of the British Chamber of Commerce and the British Council; as well as Old Rugbeians, Peter Green said the school would be a legacy project for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and praised Japan for the magnificent way in which the country was hosting the tournament, especially having suffered the effects of a major typhoon. [...]
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On October 28th, Princess Akiko attended the gala for the 2019 La Festa Mille Miglia (vintage car race) at The Okura Tokyo.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/ruedi.muell...21298332194688
Ruedi Müller posted:
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That was an experience��: On the gala evening of the La Festa Mille Miglia of today 28 October I sit at the same table as Her Royal Highness Princess Akiko��. I ask her politely if I could take a picture with her. The others at the table (Japanese) stare at me ��. But Princess Akiko immediately says yes and gets up. After the first photos the Japanese came and asked: "May we join you? Afterwards I heard: "Nobody has ever dared to do that before". But Her Royal Highnesss chatted very nicely and told me she also skies⛷, and that she has friends in Wengen.
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