The Mikasa Family Thread

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko has been hospitalized for cold and asthma attacks. IHA reported she has a fever on the evening of the 3rd and was admitted to Kyoto Prefectural Medical University Hospital on the morning of the 4th. As researcher at Kyoto Sangyo University Institute for Japanese Culture, Princess Akiko travels frequently to Kyoto and was spending the year-end holidays there.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

ETA: Princess Akiko hospitalized for high fever, asthma - The Mainichi

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko was discharged from the hospital on January 10th and will stay in Kyoto this week.
Sankei

Also, Getty Images gallery of Prince Mikasa's 50 Days Entombment Ceremony on December 15th.

[Tatiana Maria]

The prince [Tomohito] kindly carried luggage for him [his escort officer], saying, “You can’t protect me without keeping your hands free.”
Prince Tomohito, who served as the captain of Gakushuin University’s ski club and president of the Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan, requested his escort officers also acquire a high level of skiing proficiency.

The former officer said: “The prince told us to always ski four meters behind him. The distance was so subtle as to avoid a crash, even when he stopped suddenly, while preventing [other skiers] from cutting in.”

[...]

Princess Akiko of Mikasa, the eldest daughter of Prince Tomohito, wrote in her book: “A few escort officers have been in charge of my family for more than 10 years. The officers, who have known me since I was a child, are like my family.”

Imperial Guard marks 130th anniversary / Subtle security gives Emperor more leeway - The Japan News

[Prisma]

Thank you! Fascinating article.

[Prisma]

On January 17th, Princess Yoko attended the 65th anniversary of the All Japan Real Estate Association at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo.
Source: zennichi.or.jp

Princess Akiko's monthly Asahi article was posted on the 13th; January's topic is the rice cake.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Prisma

Princess Akiko has been hospitalized for cold and asthma attacks. IHA reported she has a fever on the evening of the 3rd and was admitted to Kyoto Prefectural Medical University Hospital on the morning of the 4th. As researcher at Kyoto Sangyo University Institute for Japanese Culture, Princess Akiko travels frequently to Kyoto and was spending the year-end holidays there.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

ETA: Princess Akiko hospitalized for high fever, asthma - The Mainichi

Have the other members of the Mikasa and Takamado families taken up occupations as well?

[Prisma]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Have the other members of the Mikasa and Takamado families taken up occupations as well?

Princess Yoko worked for Japanese Red Cross Society from December 2006 to November 2012 and she's President of the Social Welfare Organization "Yuaijujikai" but I'm not sure if that's an honorary role or an active one.
Princess Tsuguko currently works for UNICEF Japan.
No idea about Princess Noriko before her marriage or Princess Ayako's plans since finishing grad school.

[Prisma]

Members of the Imperial family attended the 100 days entombment ceremony on February 3rd at Toshiba Oka cemetery. The CP couple and Prince Hitachi attended an earlier ritual with family at the Mikasa residence.

Photos: Asahi

ETA: Princess Akiko's February article for Asahi is about Izumo mythology and rice.

[Prisma]

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Prince Mikasa's grave on February 9th. Princess Yuriko and Princess Akiko also attended.

Photos: Sankei, Getty Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBk55cn56w

[Prisma]

Princess Nobuko will give a lecture on the 18th at the JCI Kanazawa Conference. The 3-day event (17-19th) promotes UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Source: hokkoku.co.jp

[Prisma]

Originally Posted by Prisma

Princess Yoko visited Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures October 12-13th. She attended the disability welfare charity "Prince Tomohito of Mikasa Memorial Cup 18th Hokuriku Welfare golf tournament", at the Golf Club Goldwin of Oyabe, Toyama.

Source: 47news.jp and Asahi's Imperial schedule

Twitter photos surfaced of Princess Yoko's October visit to Toyama and Ishikawa. Looks like she also visited children and senior facilities:
https://twitter.com/KaiserinAIKO/sta...69528184033280
https://twitter.com/KaiserinAIKO/sta...68007522295808

[Prisma]

Originally Posted by Prisma

Princess Nobuko will give a lecture on the 18th at the JCI Kanazawa Conference. The 3-day event (17-19th) promotes UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Source: hokkoku.co.jp

Princess Nobuko's special lecture was about culture transfer and introduced methods of using important tools at meals.

"It is not the Internet or smartphone, but people who live here actually see the real thing, touch and learn, [that] culture will be handed down." She pointed out that there is a thin understanding of culture among young people nationwide. In order to inherit culture, each citizen [should] deepens their knowledge of the local tradition, "You should create an environment that talks about culture within each family, otherwise the culture of Kanazawa will be lost from this place."

She also shared her grandmother’s wisdom: "When eating rice in a bowl with Wajima coat, spread thin radish slices at the bottom and eat with the radish, so the rice does not stick to the vessel and can be washed easily."

Princess Nobuko is honorary president of “N Project”.

Photos/info: Chunichi, hokkoku.co.jp, Yahoo.co.jp

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko visited Hokkaido February 18-21 to attend the 40th Miyazaki International Ski Marathon.
Source: dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp

On February 22nd, Princess Akiko had two events. She attended the Heisei 28 JKA Awards Ceremony in Minato, Tokyo.
Source: www.tokyo-sports.co.jp

She also visited the Akasaki exhibit at the Bunkamura Museum in Shibuya, Tokyo. About 180 items come from the collection of British collector Israel Goldman.
Videos: fnn-news, headlines.yahoo.co.jp

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/83444...g&name=600x314

The Israel Goldman Collection This is KyMsai! Celebrated Japanese artist | THE MUSEUM | Bunkamura

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Prisma

Princess Akiko visited Hokkaido February 18-21 to attend the 40th Miyazaki International Ski Marathon.
Source: dd.hokkaido-np.co.jp

On February 22nd, Princess Akiko had two events. She attended the Heisei 28 JKA Awards Ceremony in Minato, Tokyo.
Source: www.tokyo-sports.co.jp

She also visited the Akasaki exhibit at the Bunkamura Museum in Shibuya, Tokyo. About 180 items come from the collection of British collector Israel Goldman.
Videos: fnn-news, headlines.yahoo.co.jp

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/83444...g&name=600x314

The Israel Goldman Collection This is KyMsai! Celebrated Japanese artist | THE MUSEUM | Bunkamura

Is Princess Akiko very involved in sports?

[Prisma]

I think so. Princess Akiko has attended various ski and disabled sporting events over the years. Probably influenced by her father's activities and then took over after his death.

[Prisma]

On February 25th, Princess Nobuko visited the “Eternal Treasures from Kasuga Taisha Shrine” exhibition at Tokyo National Museum.
Photos 11,12 from Sankei Imperial Weekly #476

[Prisma]

On March 7th, Princess Akiko visited the “Eternal Treasures from Kasuga Taisha Shrine” exhibition at Tokyo National Museum.

Photos 33, 37 from Sankei Imperial Weekly #477

[Prisma]

Princess Nobuko visited Komaki-shi, Aichi Prefecture March 28-29th to visit social welfare corporation AJU Independence house and inspect wine-sake factory. The Komaki Winery offers training to people with disabilities to gain employment and integrate into society.

Photos at Nagoya's Blend * Board or Kaikoukai Medical Group’s Facebook post

[Prisma]

Princess Akiko visited Kagoshima Prefecture April 6-8 to attend the 50th anniversary commemorating the crew of battleship Yamato, which was sunk in the East China Sea on April 7, 1945. About 300 people including survivors and regional residents attended the ceremony. It was the first time in 48 years a member of the Imperial family attended the memorial; Prince Takamatsu represented in 1969.

Photos: 373news.com, amamishimbun.co.jp
https://twitter.com/373news_twit/sta...61364556791808

[Prisma]

The IHA announced Princess Yoko might not attend the spring garden party on the 20th due to a right knee sprain. Last month, she was walking with a friend when she felt dizzy from anemia and fell hard on her knees. The pain has increased and Princess Yoko visited the IHA hospital for diagnosis yesterday; recovery will take about a month and her public service activities will be reevaluated.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi