THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
December 29, 2024 at 16:16 JST
Princess Kako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito and second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 30 years old on Dec. 29.
Kako remains deeply concerned about those affected by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day and heavy rains there in September, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
She hopes that people wherever they are who are affected by disasters will be able to live in peace.
To mark her birthday, the agency released a report on Kako’s activities over the past year.
The princess said that it was through her public activities and daily life that she often felt “respect and gratitude” for those who dedicate themselves to society, such as in times of disaster, as a “person living in the same society.”
Kako traveled to Greece in May for the 125th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and met with President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and visited the Parthenon, a World Heritage site in Athens.
“I sincerely hope that this year will serve as an opportunity for further deepening the friendship and goodwill between the two countries in broader and more diverse ways,” she said.
During a visit to Tottori Prefecture in September, Kako watched a performance of a music troupe comprised of people with intellectual disabilities and talked with its members. She sang with them and shook maracas during the performance.
She was “deeply moved” by the efforts of people who have supported the group over the years, according to the agency.
Kako visited Ishikawa Prefecture in October and met with celebrated traditional craftspeople, who had been affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and heavy rains.
The princess, who serves as president of the Japan Kogei Association, told them that she had been worried about how they were getting along and encouraged them to “create good works.”
Since the visit, she often thought about the artists, recalling the deep feelings that went into each piece of artwork and the way they cared for the local community, according to the agency.
In November, Princess Yuriko, aunt of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, died at the age of 101.
Kako fondly recalls how nervous she was when she visited Yuriko’s residence to pay respects as an elementary school pupil and how kindly Yuriko treated her, according to the agency.
This year, Kako attended 72 events in Tokyo, up from 58 in 2023, and made nine visits to local regions, down from 10, the agency said.
The princess, who can communicate in sign language, has been working at the Japanese Federation of the Deaf since 2021.
In April, she reduced the number of days she works at the organization from three days a week to two due to her busy schedule of official duties.
(This article was written by Yuko Kawasaki and Ayako Nakada.)
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Princess Kako marked her 30th birthday on Dec. 29. (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)
