Japan

Japanese government considering government posts for female Imperial Family members

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25th November 2020
The Japanese government is considering giving government posts to female Imperial Family members after they have lost their imperial status upon marriage to commoners. This would allow them to continue their royal work after leaving the Imperial Family. Informed government sources have said this is one way the government is considering addressing the declining numbers of the Japanese Imperial…
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Japan

Princess Mako turns 29

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23rd October 2020
Japan’s Princess Mako of Akishino is celebrating her 29th birthday today; she is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and eldest granddaughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. A video was released by the Imperial Household Agency of Mako and her younger sister, Princess Kako, at their home. It was taken in early October in Tokyo at the Akasaka Estate. Mako…
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Japan

Yuriko, Princess Mikasa hospitalised with heart failure

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30th September 2020
Japan’s Yuriko, Princess Mikasa has been hospitalised following a heart failure diagnosis, the Imperial Household Agency has announced. Yuriko, Princess Mikasa is the oldest member of Japan’s Imperial Family and the great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito. The Imperial…
Japan

Crown Princess of Japan says it's "important to accept daughter's feelings" on wedding

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13th September 2020
During an interview for her 54th birthday on 11 September, Japan’s Crown Princess, Kiko spoke about her elder daughter’s postponed wedding. The Crown Princess said that she wants to “respect as much as possible” the feelings of her daughter, Princess Mako, and her daughter’s fiance, Kei Komuro. The couple were due to wed in 2018 but postponed their wedding…
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Japan

Pandemic impacts Princess Mako's wedding plans

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15th August 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Princess Mako of Japan’s wedding plans. The Princess announced her engagement to Kei Komuro in May 2017 with a wedding set for the following year; however, in 2018, the couple announced that they were postponing their wedding for…
Japan

Japanese pundits call for Imperial Household to use social media to promote activities

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29th July 2020
Japanese pundits have called on the Imperial Household to use social media, like their European and Middle Eastern counterparts, to promote their activities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have struggled with their roles this year as many events and trips were forced to be cancelled or postponed – including a state visit to the United Kingdom. The…
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