More about Princess Yohko at the 48th "Water Day" commemorative event "Gathering to Think About Water" on August 1.
- In the Heisei era, Crown Prince Naruhito attended this event. Princess Aiko joined her parents at the 2016 gathering.
- Princess Yohko has attended in the Reiwa era. This is her 3rd appearance.
- Part of her humorous speech, "I have attended these water gatherings several times now, and when His Majesty spoke on my behalf, I asked if it would be alright if I were to speak, even though I am neither a researcher nor an expert on water. I was told that it would be alright, and so I am participating. However, Toshio Koike (Chairman of the Water Week Executive Committee) pressured me by saying that he expected me to give a good speech, so I am feeling very nervous," eliciting laughter from Chairman Koike and everyone else.
- She has deepened her understanding of water issues: "This year marks the 48th Water Day, but as the saying goes, persistence is power, so I hope that we will continue to aim for the 50th Water Day. We, young and old alike, must always think about the biggest things, such as the Noto earthquake and the heavy rain disaster in Yamagata. I hope that we can spend more time thinking about disasters on a daily basis, rather than worrying about them after they occur." Until now, Yohko-sama has pointed out the problem of "being indifferent." From now on, she appealed for the importance of preparing for disasters on a daily basis, even if only a little.
- Princess Yohko read all winning essays of the All-Japan Junior High School Water Essay Contest
- She eased the tension meeting the award winners, who were already nervous about accepting an award on stage and then faced speaking to an Imperial family member.
- "Were you nervous? Did you all have to do something like a rehearsal? I felt so sorry, thinking that you probably thought you had to greet me properly," Yohko said.
- Despite these circumstances, Princess Yohko expressed her hope that through receiving this award, junior high school students will have more opportunities to think about water as 'speakers.'"
- She also commented, "I am encouraged by everyone's study skills, and I will also study hard. If I am asked to attend this event in the future, I will do my best, so I would like to continue to work hard together with you all."
Source, photos:
FNN
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In relation to her new book "Kyoto: Looking for Time Capsules on the Streets," Princess Akiko made a special contribution to Mainichi's magazine, writing an article titled, "Fire - Hiking the trails on Mt. Daimonji."
- Summer in Kyoto is tough. Even though she’s lived in Kyoto for 10+ years, she still thinks so. "… Kyoto is a basin surrounded by mountains on three sides, so the warm air stays at the bottom and there is not much wind, resulting in a muggy heat that clings to your body. I don't like the heat, so I always become sluggish in the summer, but strangely enough, I don't dislike summer in Kyoto."
- discusses housing before air conditioning: homes of nobles were generally built in Shinden-zukuri style with open ceilings, rooms separated by blinds or folding screens that can be moved to promote ventilation, ponds
- events to enjoy the summer such as Three Great Festivals of Kyoto: Kamigamo Shrine's Summer Purification Ceremony, Yasaka Shrine's Gion Festival, and Shimogamo Shrine's Mitarashi Festival
- end of summer’s Gozan no Okuribi bonfires
- "When I worked at Ginkakuji Temple, I used to climb Mt. Daimonji every year on the day of the Okuribi. It's an easy climb that takes about an hour, but the first time I did it, I was very anxious because I couldn't see the end. The road was paved up to the trailhead, but the mountain path suddenly started from there.”
- discusses her first climb for the bonfire, torches, view of Kyoto City, brightness of the sky, priest reciting the Heart Sutra, firefighters ensuring safety, etc.
- "… There is a passion for the event, a feeling of people, and a history that you can't understand unless you go to the site. I think it was a very hard event for the police, but I am truly grateful that they let me climb it every year without saying anything. Recently, I have often looked up at the bonfires from below. But I always think back to the brightness and heat of the fires I saw on top of the mountain. I have been experiencing the Obon festival since coming to Kyoto. With that hot fire in mind, I would like to quietly send off the spirits of my ancestors this year as well."
Source, photo:
weekly-economist.mainichi.jp
More photos of Princess Yōko at the finals of the 1st Princess Yohko Cup All Japan Super Formula Championship Round 4 Fuji Race:
(a little personal thought).
I have mixed feelings about her becoming an eyewear ambassador... royals are unofficial ambassadors for anything they wear or use but to make it official? I can't recall any Imperial family member as a brand ambassador. Is there precedent?
