Princess Aiko
Open words about wedding plans, cousin Mako and her weaknesses
Princess Aiko at the press conference celebrating her 20th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, March 17, 2022.
© Dana Press
Princess Aiko has given her first press conference three months after her 20th birthday. She also brought up her cousin Mako, who has lived in exile in New York since her marriage.
Princess Aiko, 20, of Japan was a bit nervous when she gave her first press conference to mark her coming of age on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Because of the corona pandemic and her university commitments, the date was postponed for more than three months.
Princess Aiko reveals she can sleep anywhere
A new phase of life began for Princess Aiko on her 20th birthday. The support of her parents, Emperor Naruhito, 62, and Empress Masako, 58, is particularly important to her. “The presence of my parents is irreplaceable and they are always the closest thing to me, no matter what situation I find myself in. I would also like to thank my mother for giving birth to me,” says Aiko right at the beginning of her press conference . She also has good memories of her childhood: “I grew up largely carefree and therefore tend to do things at my own pace.” She enjoys jogging with her father, Emperor Naruhito, in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. She also plays badminton and volleyball with the staff.
However, her weaknesses include her shyness and being too relaxed. The princess reveals that she really can sleep anywhere.
Mako ‘was like a dependable older sister to me’
On the other hand, Aiko hardly wanted to talk about the wedding of her cousin, Princess Mako, 30, who is now called Mako Komuro. She only explained that she had heard that her father and uncle had jointly decided that the traditional rituals on the wedding day should not take place. Aiko still has a few warm words for Mako: “She was like a reliable older sister to me and I will always remember with gratitude how kind and nice she was to me. As her cousin, I pray that she has many more years may be happy.”
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And what about your own wedding plans? “Marriage seems a long way off to me and I haven’t really thought about it yet. I don’t have a specific idea of my ideal partner, but being with someone we can make each other smile with seems perfect to be,” is Aiko’s tentative response to questions about her love life.
Aiko wants to fulfill duties “to the best of his ability”.
For the future, Princess Aiko promises the Japanese people to fulfill their duties “to the best of their ability” and “every one of my duties [zu] cherish.” “I believe that the most important spirit of the imperial family is to always wish for the happiness of the people and to fulfill their duties while sharing with the people hardships and joys, as the Emeritus Emperor has often said and how it was handed down to the Emperor,” emphasizes Aiko and reveals: “On my birthday I didn’t really realize that I had come of age, but when I received the award from His Majesty the Emperor at the adult event on December 5, 2021, I felt the weight of the award […].”
Despite her new responsibility, her studies will continue to have priority in the years to come, Aiko concludes. The princess studies Japanese literature at Gakushuin University in Tokyo.
Sources used: teda.dk