Photo/Illutration Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, enters the Sento Imperial Residence to greet Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko on Jan. 1. (Pool)

Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, will work at the Japanese Red Cross Society from April after graduating from her university, the Imperial Household Agency said on Jan. 22.

Aiko will be the second member of the imperial family to work for the Red Cross following Princess Yoko, the second daughter of the late Prince Tomohito, a cousin of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.

“I’m delighted to be involved in the work of the Japanese Red Cross Society, an organization I have always been interested in,” Aiko said in a statement released by the agency. “At the same time, I feel a sense of responsibility.”

Officials said Aiko will work as a contract employee, which will allow her to fulfill her official duties. Details of her work have yet to be determined.

She is a senior at the Faculty of Letters at Gakushuin University, majoring in Japanese language and literature. She has already submitted her graduation thesis, the agency said.

According to the agency, Aiko has long been interested in welfare activities. She has participated in briefings and viewed, along with her parents, an exhibition the Red Cross organized.

She has deepened her understanding of the response to COVID-19 and disaster relief efforts as well.

Officials said she wanted to join the JRC in the hopes her involvement in its activities could help contribute to society.

“By continuing to learn various things and working hard with the awareness of being a member of society, I hope to be of help to people and society, even if only a little,” Aiko said in the statement.

Naruhito and Masako said they are grateful Aiko has been accepted as a contract employee at the JRC, according to a close aide.

The aide reported the imperial couple said they hope she will continue to work to be of service to many people and grow as a member of society.

Last year, Aiko attended a lecture from the president of the JRC and others along with her parents.

In October that year, she visited the JRC headquarters in Tokyo’s Minato Ward with her parents to view an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake.

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