Hi Abigail,
I wish I have seen this question of yours earlier
According to a Chinese online news article:
ÈÕ±¾Ìì»Ê"»îÔÚÓã¸×Àï"-Öйú½ðÓãרҵÍø
Bascially it says:
The Imperial couple lives like an overstructured gold fishes living in a pot.
Every morning the couple gets up at 6:30am. They will then watch tv news and will also take a walk in the palace garden. The palace is situated in the centre of Tokyo city. There are occasionally guests. The palace itself can not be compared to the grandness of European palaces.
It is said that if the Emperor wants to go to another building in the palace complex he would usually walk. If raining, he would drive his fourteen year old Honda car. He persists to drive according to the driving rules, put on his seat belt, updating his licence every few years, though the avenues in the palace complex are all private.
After a busy day, in the night after everything else, they would either watch tv programs about natural ecology or video tapes about the same theme. They have neither dvds nor internet. They would also read newspapers and magazines.
Because of their busy life, they dont have much time to see their friends or for leisure. Their chef for over 10 years commented that if their majesties have one day in a week free, then it would be considered lucky. Their majesties belong to the generation of hard-working. They almost vew leisure and luxury as sinful.
The Emperor loves tennis and cello. However his greates interest has to be gobies (a type of fish). Ever since 1967, the Emperor has written 38 essays on gobies. This has made him an expert in gobies. This great interest comes from his youth when he would often visit his villa with his father to collect samples of gobies.
Once, the natural science organization of United Kingdom asked Akihito to give a speech on his research of gobies. The Emperor was grateful about this and humbly said "he feels he is not so qualified". The Empress during a press conference, once said "not so long after our engagement, the then Crown Prince chatted with me about fishes. He was able to give out very specific names of fishes such as Tilapia mossambica. I was so surprised by him!"
Another artical, which I could not find on the internet anymore says that the Empress gets up around 5:30 am every morning and would power walk in the palace straight after before breakfast is served.
Greetings, and Happy New Year to you all!
I have always been very curious as to HOW members of this family spend their days, after awakening, and what they usually eat. I am not referring to "State Dinners" now, and other special occasions. I am referring to what their day-to-day eating habits are, please.
About the daily activities: What does one DO as a Japanese Royal, from day to day after waking up in the Akasaka Palace? You know, do they watch TV, work out, what meetings do they attend, etc.
Also, are they allowed out at all to shop, run errands, go to the cinema, meet their past friends, and family?
Thank you.
I hope to be referred to Articles that cover these subjects IN ENGLISH if at all possible.
-- Abbie
According to this Chinese online news article:
ÈÕ±¾ÃÀÖÇ×ӻʺóÔ¸ÍûÊÇѧÆï³µ_Ȥζʷ»°_Öйú¾*¼ÃÍø¡ª¡ª¹ú¼Ò¾*¼ÃÃÅ»§
On her 73th birthday press conference, the Empress said: one morning, during a walk in the palace garden, the Emperor and I discovered that the "job's tears" have rippened and so we picked some. We've decided to pick some every year so that when Princess Aiko is old enough, we can use them to play the game "making necklaces" with her.
Also the Empress said that Princess Mako and Kako are taking care of their little brother, Hisahito, like little mothers. They change his clothes with experience but also act a little mischevious, while the little Aiko would gently touch his little hands are quite a cute scene.
According to another Chinese article about Empress Michiko's background:
日本新åŽä¾¨ç½‘ 《日本新åŽä¾¨æŠ¥ã€‹â€”—ä¸*日交æµæ¡¥æ¢ 在日åŽäººå®¶å›*å¹³æˆçš‡åŽå¹³æ°‘燕--美智å*皇åŽ
The article mentioned a bit about the then Miss Michiko Shoda's daily life:
Miss Michiko's daily life reflected an upper class maiden's lifestyle pattern.
Michiko was a student of the prestigious Tokyo Sacred Hearts School. This is a Catholic school which aims to polish every student into individual shiny diamonds with no residuals, developing them into a member of the upper society. Michiko remained a Buddhist.
Every morning, she went to school and came back home at 3pm. Then she would have afternoon tea followed by homework. Shoda family would have dinner at 6pm. At 8pm, Shoda family would be in their living room ready to listen to Michiko's mother's performance of Chopin and other famous composers' works on piano. Sometimes, the children would sing with the music.
Michiko's academic result was always amongst the top few. She was also interested in various school activities. She was chosen to be the school captain.
Michiko was a polite and sunny student. She was so excellent altogether to the point that once a teacher said to her: you are almost a perfect girl. perhaps your perfectness is your short-coming.
Every summer, the whole family would go to Karuizawa. At there, Michiko would indulge herself in the surrounding nature and tennis.
According to Times article: The girl from outside: Michiko loved playing tennis in Karuizawa. She would play almost everyday there. She also enjoyed dropping into the little village shops for rice balls and noodles—a passion that absorbed nearly all her monthly allowance of $2.78.
Also according to another article: Michiko loved mashamellows.
Forgot to mention that the Imperial Family only harvest from the Imperial farm. Milk, egg, vegetables. I'm not sure about grains and meat.
