Imperial Family of Japan Current Events Part 4: March 2025 -

[iceflower]

Welcome to part 4 of the thread for the Current Events of the Imperial Family of Japan!


You can find the old thread here:

** Imperial Family of Japan Current Events Part 3: May 2017 - March 2025 **

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[Prisma]

On March 22nd, Princess Hisako and Princess Akiko attended the Cambridge & Oxford Society, Tokyo - 120th Anniversary Dinner at the Imperial Hotel in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Photos: Facebook Yushi Inaba

 

[iceflower]

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko are in Osaka today, April 11:


** gettyimages gallery **

 

[iceflower]

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attended the official opening ceremony and side events of the 2025 Osaka Expo today, April 12:


** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

Spring garden party routes for Imperial family on April 22:

• Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako: same path as before
• Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko, Princess Yohko, Princess Hisako: south side of Nakaike pond
• Princess Aiko, Princess Kako, Princess Akiko, Princess Tsuguko: approach tent area near Shobu Pond, then turn around, and south side of Nakaike pond

Also, alcoholic beverages will be served again. Full food and drink service returns to pre-pandemic format.

Source, photo: Sankei

See post #399 in previous thread about reasons for the route change.

TBS livestream of spring garden party on April 22

 

[iceflower]

Here are some first photos of today's garden party:


** gettyimages: JPN: Emperor And Empress Host Spring Garden Party **

 

[Prisma]

more photos: FNN, Mainichi, Asahi, AP Images

Japan Emperor, Empress Host Garden Party for 1,800 Guests; Attendees Include Mangaka, Former Women’s Softball Coach

<p>The Emperor and Empress hosted the spring garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Motoakasaka, Tokyo, on Tuesday afternoon, welcoming about 1,800 guests.</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

1800 were invited and about 1400 attended per Nikkei

Better kimono photos: Dot Asahi

Princess Aiko's 3-crested furisode featured the Imperial family's crest: 十六葉八重表菊 (Sixteen-leaf double-petaled chrysanthemum)

Princess Kako's 3-crested furisode had the Akishino family crest: fourteen-petal chrysanthemums and four branches and leaves of the Japanese hemlock (Crown Prince Akishino's emblem)

Imperial garden party updated: more interactive, less congested | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "令和7年4月22日（火）、赤坂御苑において園遊会が開催されました。"

61K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on April 22, 2025: "令和7年4月22日（火）、赤坂御苑において園遊会が開催されました。".

www.instagram.com

宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "令和7年4月22日（火）、赤坂御苑において園遊会が開催されました。"

25K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on April 22, 2025: "令和7年4月22日（火）、赤坂御苑において園遊会が開催されました。".

www.instagram.com

Ambassador Teimuraz Lezhava of Georgia with Imperial relative Sen Genshitsu (age 102) of Urasenke Tea Ceremony. He's father-in-law of the former Princess Masako of Mikasa.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1914584272457146624

Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura evaluated the garden party route change at a regular press conference on April 24th. One person was reported to have become unwell this time.

Nishimura commented the 3 routes, "had a certain degree of effect" and believed, that overall, the atmosphere was peaceful and enjoyable. Guests were able to chat, eat and stroll around Akasaka Estate. According to aides, when agency staff explained the change to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, they readily agreed and suggested providing chairs at locations. Their Majesties hoped this initiative will allow guests to enjoy themselves at a more leisurely pace.

Source: NTV

The original, single route caused long wait times for guests with rain or hot weather making the situation worse. At last year's autumn garden party, 5 people became unwell and 2 were taken to hospital according to Sankei.

-----

1hr 44 min video from Nico Nico

Yahoo Japan's The Page shared Imperial Household Agency footage

1hr 33 min video from NTV

 

[MarieAmelie_95]

Princesses Akiko, Tsuguko and Hisako will attend the Ikebana International 13th World Convention at Kyoto International Conference Center, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, which will be held April 26th-27th.

They will travel on different dates:
* Princess Akiko: April 25th-26th
* Princess Hisako: April 25th-29th
* Princess Tsuguko: April 26th

This will be Ikebana International's 13th World conference and will feature demonstrations from the headmasters of 7 schools of ikebana, starting with Ikenobo.

Hopefully we'll get photos of the Princesses together, and I expect the event to be covered by the media. Soo happy that Akiko and Tsuguko can interact at this event, since they were soo closed at the Spring Garden Party yesterday, chatting and laughing. I hope that such occasions will be more present.

Source: blog.goo.ne.jp (Asahi Imperial Schedule)

 

[MarieAmelie_95]

On April 25th, Princess Akiko and Princess Hisako attended the opening ceremony of the Ikebana International 13th World Convention at Kyoto International Conference Center, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture.

Around 1,000 people from around 40 countries and regions attended. The Ikebana exhibition will be open to the public on the 26th and 27th.

Photos: Yomiuri, kyoto-np.co.jp, Facebook


On April 26th, Princess Tsuguko toured the Ikebana International 13th World Exhibition and attended the Ikebana Convention at Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, along with her mother Princess Hisako.

Photos: Facebook

Hoping to find more beautiful photos of Princess Tsuguko. Maybe an article from a newspaper?

 

[Prisma]

On April 27th, Princess Akiko of Mikasa gave a 30-minute keynote lecture entitled "What gloves and hats convey" and participated in a panel discussion at Gakushuin University. Emperor Naruhito attended privately. The event is related to an exhibition currently being held at the university's Kasumi Kaikan Memorial Gakushuin Museum.

Princess Akiko spoke about the dress etiquette for official duties, which is based on 19th century European court clothing. She described the Empress does not wear a hat at the general public greetings, whereas other women do, because the palace is considered part of Her Majesty's home. However, Akiko acknowledged people have asked, then "Why does Princess Aiko wear a hat?" Akiko thinks the reason is because princesses of the Meiji and Showa eras lived apart from their parents, so the custom is still followed but she'd like to ask the Emperor about it later.

Akiko learned the etiquette of wearing hats from her grandmother, the late Princess Yuriko, and also brought Yuriko's gloves, which she inherited, to the event. Imperial women often wear gloves while giving speeches.

Photos, sources: Asahi, TBS, FNN