Princess Kiko of Akishino poses for a photograph ahead of her 59th birthday, August 22, 2025, at the Akishino residence in Minato Ward, Tokyo (courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency).
Crown Princess Kiko of Akishino marked her 59th birthday on September 11, offering written responses to questions from the Imperial Household press corps. Princess Kiko is the wife of Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother and heir presumptive to Emperor Naruhito.
In her remarks, she conveyed both joy and high hopes for her son, Prince Hisahito, who celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony on September 6. She also expressed gratitude to those who have supported him along the way.
Guiding Her Son
Reflecting on Prince Hisahito's future, the Crown Princess noted that while he continues his studies at the University of Tsukuba, he is also beginning to take part in palace rituals and public duties. She expressed her wish that he "actively seek opportunities to broaden his perspective through diverse experiences."
Prince Hisahito's coming-of-age ceremony was the first of its kind since 1985, when his father, Crown Prince Akishino, marked the same milestone four decades earlier. Princess Kiko noted that few staff members today had direct knowledge of the earlier ceremony. Therefore, preparations were made "by consulting historical documents and listening to experts in court rituals and protocol." She added that Prince Hisahito himself took part in the planning, navigating trial and error along the way, and "seemed to feel the weight of responsibility and duty."
She also shared a more personal glimpse into his daily life: earlier this spring, Prince Hisahito obtained his driver's license. Occasionally, he now takes the wheel of the Volkswagen Beetle long cherished by Prince Akishino, driving his father around the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo's Minato Ward, where the family resides.
Family Joys and National Reflections
Speaking of her second daughter, Princess Kako, who undertook an official visit to Brazil in June and remains active in a wide range of activities, Princess Kiko offered her thoughts. "I find her presence very reassuring," she remarked.
On her eldest daughter, Mako Komuro, who lives in the United States and gave birth this spring, she expressed delight at the arrival of her first grandchild. She added that she hopes "they might visit Japan at a good time."
Reflecting on her 35 years of marriage to Prince Akishino, she wrote: "Seeing our children grown, I feel grateful for having spent all these years together with him."
Looking back on the past year, Princess Kiko highlighted her visits to Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing, and to Ishikawa Prefecture. She described both as particularly memorable, noting Ishikawa's ongoing recovery from the Noto Peninsula earthquake.
Speaking about the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, she recalled listening to survivors in Hiroshima and visiting ruins destroyed by the atomic bomb. "Even in places close to us, there remain many reminders of war," she reflected.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
