Crown Princess Kiko turns 57 on September 11.
Birthday photos and content were taken on August 18 at the Akishino residence. The Crown Prince couple chat while browsing tactile picture books with Braille.
Photos:
Asahi,
Jiji,
Mainichi
IHA statement:
https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/kaiken/show/63
Summary: questions 1 and 3 were about activities/hopes and family updates
- recovery from recent bout of Covid-19. She is grateful for concerns over her health and is reminded that others have suffered hardships after infection or had longer recovery.
- recap of past year events: resuming public activities, regional visits, championships and festivals, memorials, etc.
- during the pandemic limitations, she spent more time in the garden and this year, Kiko worked with staff to plant tulips, sunflowers, etc. The flowers are arranged around the house or delivered as tokens of gratitude
- coronation of King Charles III, meeting other royalty
- notes natural disasters and their impact on people, ecosystems and agricultural crops
- Crown Prince couple visited Hawaii in 2018 and she hopes calm will be restored for the people of Maui and elsewhere affected wildfires, typhoons, tornadoes, etc.
- wishes for the health of the Emeritus couple, Emperor, Empress and Princess Yuriko who recently turned 100
- She continues to pursue activities in medicine, maternal and child health, and childcare
- Kiko is heartened by how passionately Kako tackles each task
- Kako "usually visits the main house from time to time to talk and eat with us."
- Regarding Kako’s marriage, "if there is such a discussion, I would like to listen to Kako’s feelings and thoughts, and convey my feelings and thoughts to her."
- Regarding Hisahito's career path, "I hope that he will deepen his learning in his own way, accumulate various experiences, and value his own interests and inquisitiveness, both in school life and other activities."
- Regarding Mako's recent status, I will refrain from commenting per her wishes, as I did last year.
- The arch of Rosa banksiae (Mako’s personal emblem) that Kiko started in the garden is growing. "I think it will take some time, but I am looking forward to seeing the arch completed. Although we live far away, I always wish Mako happiness."
Question 2 was about the Akishino residence renovation
- residence consists of 3 parts: private, public and office space
- IHA’s main purpose was to renovate sections that had remained largely untouched since it was built in 1972 for Princess Chichibu, such as aging piping, as well as parts that were deemed unsuitable due to changes in building regulations
- She heard the new residence would be 20% private, 30% public and 50% office space
- Crown Prince couple had 2 requests for the IHA from the design stage: 1) cherish the beautiful interior and exterior design of the former Chichibu residence designed by Mr. Isohachi Yoshida and 2) done with minimum necessary budget
- temporary residence also consists of private, public and office spaces
- except for Kako’s room, most of the temporary residence is being used for office space
- as the Crown Prince couple and Hisahito moved into the renovated Akishino residence, staff would use the former private areas of the temporary residence.
- specific details were not disclosed earlier because it is a private matter and concerns security.
- IHA subsequently determined further explanations were needed regarding 2 major changes from original plans so in June, the Crown Prince and Management departments provided supplementary details
- Kiko is very concerned about the scale of renovation, length of construction due to pandemic, and increasing cost of materials which caused the renovation to go over budget.
- Management, experts and engineers considered the necessary repairs and provided explanations. She thinks everyone involved made the choices they could think of.
I think it's the 3-diamond Mitsubishi emblem
