Japan’s Crown Princess Kiko Turns 60

Tokyo, Sept. 11 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Crown Princess Kiko, the wife of Crown Prince Akishino, turned 60 on Friday. “I am grateful to have reached this day, and I hope that I can take on new activities,” Crown Princess Kiko said in written responses to questions from the press. She mourned the victims of recent natural disasters, including a major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in July and torrential rains in many parts of the country, while wishing those affected well. Regarding the revised Imperial House Law that was passed in July, the Crown Princess wrote, “I accept it as a matter of fact.” The revised law is aimed at securing a sufficient number of Imperial Family members by allowing the adoption of male paternal-line descendants of the 11 former Imperial Family branches into the family and enabling female members of the Imperial Family to retain their Imperial status after marriage. She said she had talked to her second daughter, Princess Kako, 31, and her eldest son, Prince Hisahito, 20, about the revision, adding, “I would like to continue watching over my children, wishing for their happiness in the years to come.” Recalling the time of her marriage in 1990, the Crown Princess said that she felt completely lost as everything was new. She described experiencing a “series of tense moments” such as official events at the Imperial Palace, trips in Japan and abroad and events to welcome foreign dignitaries, but said she was reassured by support from Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito. Each of her public duties, including activities as patroness of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association and president of the Imperial Gift Foundation Boshi-Aiiku-Kai, has been an opportunity to learn, the Crown Princess said. She said that during visits to disaster-stricken areas she has attached importance to conveying her sympathy to those affected. As someone born after the end of World War II, Crown Princess Kiko expressed her wish to “continue to have opportunities to learn about what happened at the time and deepen understanding” when attending memorial services for the war dead. She and Crown Prince Akishino have been married for more than 36 years, and they had three children–their eldest daughter Mako Komuro, 34, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito. Looking back on family life, she said the number of people around the dining table she initially shared with Crown Prince Akishino “grew to three, then four, then five, making it livelier.” As their children have grown up, the Crown Princess has had more time with her husband, she said, adding that they have begun to pay more attention to their diets and physical fitness together. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]