The Mikasa Family Thread


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On January 3rd, the 50-day memorial ceremonies for Princess Yuriko were held at the Mikasa residence from 2pm and Toshimagaoka Cemetery from 4:30pm.

Mikasa and Takamado princesses, joined by Princess Aiko and Crown Prince Akishino family, attended the ceremonies. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and the Emeritus couple sent representatives.

Photos: FNN, TBS

 
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On December 18th, 2024, during her visit to Fukuoka Prefecture, Princess Nobuko attended the 64th General Meeting of the Fukuoka Prefecture Japanese Red Cross Society Blue Ribbon Association at the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, in Fukuoka City. The Princess is Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The general assembly was attended by about 350 people, including members of the Konshukai and people connected with the Japanese Red Cross. Princess Nobuko presented the Medal of Merit.

Photos: jrc.or.jp

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More photos of Princess Nobuko at the Kyushu Eight Prefectures conference at Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk in Fukuoka City on December 17th, 2024.

Photos: jrc.or.jp
 
On January 13th, Princess Akiko attended the 61th All Japan University Rugby Football Championship Final at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, in Tokyo.

The team of the Teikyō University won against the Waseda University team for the fourth consecutive year and for the thirteenth time. The Princess presented the award at the end of the match.

Photos: Facebook1, Facebook2

 
On January 12th, Princess Nobuko attended the 2025 Kodokan Kagami Biraki Ceremony at Kodokan Judo Institute in Bunkyo, Tokyo.


More photos of Princess Yohko's October 2024 visit to Toyama Prefecture for Prince Tomohito Memorial Cup / 26th Hokuriku Welfare Golf Tournament and tour of NPO b-Life.


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On January 17th, Princess Yohko presented a donation of 4.3 million yen, generated from her foundation's activities in the United States, to Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. 45 crafts from the Noto region, including Wajima lacquerware, were exhibited and sold at events in California. Princess Yohko will continue to promote Japanese traditional crafts as a way to support the disaster-stricken areas.

Photos, video: NTV

 
On January 15th, Princess Akiko gave a lecture at the 3R1Z Joint New Year's Meeting of the Kyoto Rakuhoku Lions Club at ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto.

The attendee Yoichiro Akiyama thinks his good relationship with the chairperson of Nagakusa embroidery studio, which was was involved in Ofune Boko float restoration, was the reason he was seated at the same table as Princess Akiko. Akiyama was also tasked with giving a toast after her lecture. He was nervous about using honorific language properly and balancing consideration for the princess and club members. He woke up at 3am and could not sleep. The Imperial Household Agency asked attendees to refrain from sending personal greetings to Princess Akiko, taking photos and posting on social media.

Source: Facebook Yoichiro Akiyama

Photo of her place card

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Princess Akiko's cultural organization Shinyusha released a podcast about the "Lacquer Noh Project" on Spotify. The project actually began about 10 years ago. In the podcast, Princess Akiko speaks with 2 Noh performers, passing on traditional culture, thoughts behind Noh, and two poems that Akiko composed to create the lacquer Noh play.

Source: Facebook Shinyusha

 
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On January 21st, Princess Nobuko began a two-day visit to Saga Prefecture:

She visited a strawberry farm in Saga City, Saga Prefecture. The "Ichigo-san" variety, developed by Saga Prefecture and characterized by its deep red color and beautiful shape, is grown in the greenhouses. Princess Nobuko, who also grows strawberries in her home garden, was surprised when she saw strawberries in the greenhouse and said, "They're big."

Princess Nobuko will attend the "National Summit of Agricultural Leaders" to be held at the Saga Arena on the 22nd.

Videos: Sagatv.co.jp, FNN


ETA: Saga Shimbun deleted its article about her visit to the farmer. But I saved the photo. 😉
 
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Saga Shimbun re-upload its article about Princess Nobuko's visit to the strawberry farmer. It is a paid item, but the photo can be previewed if you search for the title of the article.

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On January 22nd, Princess Nobuko attended the 26th National Agricultural Leaders Summit and related activities at Saga Arena, Saga City, Saga Prefecture.

The Princess delivered a speech during the ceremony. In her speech, Princess Nobuko said: "It is significant for the development of Japanese agriculture and the region that farmers come together, exchange information and knowledge, and discuss what the future should look like".

Photo: Yomiuri

More about Princess Nobuko's attendance at the 26th National Agricultural Leaders Summit and related activities at Saga Arena, Saga City, Saga Prefecture, on the 22nd.

At the end of her speech, she said: "I would like to conclude my speech by expressing my sincere hope that this summit will allow the circle of leaders to expand from here in Saga to the rest of the country and that Japanese agriculture will develop strongly in the future".

Videos: Sagtv.co.jp, FNN

 
On January 23rd, Princess Akiko visited the "Pokémon x Crafts Exhibition - Great Discoveries of Beauty and Crafts" at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Minato, Tokyo. She spent about an hour appreciating art created by pottery, metalwork, dyed textiles, ceramic, lacquer, and other materials.

Photos: Yomiuri, Nikkei

:previous: AP Images of Princess Akiko's visit to the Pokémon exhibition
 
Princess Akiko's Oxford memoir "Red and Blue Gown" is being serialized by manga artist Aoi Ikebe. The manga adaptation begins in the January issue of “Shincho Novels” (released on December 20, 2024) and includes a new essay from Princess Akiko for the debut. The manga series will be available to read on Shinchosha’s manga website Kurage Brunch ( kuragebunch.com ) from January 31, 2025. The first volume is scheduled to be released in January 2026.

The detailed brushwork of manga artist Aoi Ikebe beautifully depicts Princess Akiko's life studying abroad and her inner conflicts, further enhancing the appeal of the original work.

Sources: ★お知らせ★皇室エッセイ初の漫画化 彬子女王著『赤と青のガウン』がコミック連載に!書き下ろしエッセイも掲載 | 日本の伝統文化を未来へ|一般社団法人心游舎


 
On January 30th, Princess Akiko attended a memorial ceremony at Emperor Kōmei's mausoleum in Higashiyama, Kyoto on the anniversary of his death. Other Imperial family attended a ceremony at the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries in Tokyo.


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ETA: Princess Akiko has Covid-19. This is her second infection following a bout in July-August 2022 and was hospitalized at her doctor's discretion. This time, she will recover at her residence in Kyoto.

January 29: 37 degree C fever and sore throat in afternoon. fever dropped to 36 degree range by evening.
January 30: no fever, only slight sore throat so she attended Emperor Kōmei's memorial wearing a mask
January 31: took PCR test as a precaution and was positive. Current symptoms are slight sore throat, no fever.

Sources: NTV, NHK, TBS
 
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