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Japan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Former Japanese princess Mako gives birth to first child
Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. In a regular press conference, Naomasa Yoshida, grand master of the Crown Prince's Household, did not disclose the baby's sex or date of birth, but said that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as well as their other children, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, are delighted about the birth and are wishing for the happiness of the Komuro family. The newborn is the first grandchild for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Regarding the timing of the announcement, the grand master said: "This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped that she would spend her time in a quiet environment. We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports (about the birth)." Mako, 33, left the Imperial Family after marrying Kei Komuro, 33, a former schoolmate at International Christian University in Tokyo, in October 2021. They moved to the United States together the following month. Kei passed the New York state bar examination on his third attempt in 2022 and now works at a law firm there.
3 days ago
- General
Ex-Japanese Princess Mako Gives Birth to 1st Child
Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)--Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. In a regular press conference, Naomasa Yoshida, grand master of the Crown Prince's Household, did not disclose the baby's sex or date of birth, but said that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as well as their other children, Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, are delighted about the birth and are wishing for the happiness of the Komuro family. The newborn is the first grandchild for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Regarding the timing of the announcement, the grand master said: "This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped that she would spend her time in a quiet environment. We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports (about the birth)." Mako, 33, left the Imperial Family after marrying Kei Komuro, 33, a former schoolmate at International Christian University in Tokyo, in October 2021. They moved to the United States together the following month. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
66% in Japan interested in Imperial Family, 70% approve female succession: Mainichi poll
TOKYO -- Around two-thirds of people in Japan have an interest in the Imperial Family, while 70% favor allowing women to inherit the throne, the results of a Mainichi Shimbun national survey conducted on May 17 and 18 have shown. The 66% who said they are interested in the Imperial Family is roughly double the 33% who said they were not. As the Imperial Family continues to taper off, the future of the system is an important issue. The Mainichi Shimbun continues to regularly conduct polls gauging public awareness, including whether people care about the Imperial Family. To a question asking whether they were interested in the Imperial Family, replies varied by age group, with 50% of those 18 to 29 years old saying they weren't, slightly higher than the 49% who were. The proportion of those interested increased with age: 54% of those in their 30s, 57% among those in their 40s, 68% for those in their 50s, 76% in their 60s and reaching the highest level at 82% among those 70 and older. Analyzing responses from all age groups, 19% reported being "very interested" compared to 47% who said "somewhat," 23% said "not very" and 10% replied "not at all." Those with a strong interest were limited to about 20%, leaving it unclear if people's thoughts on the Imperial Family extend to discussions over the system of Imperial succession. The current Imperial Family includes six members in the Emperor's next generation, five of whom are women. Prince Hisahito, the now 18-year-old son of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, is the only male of his generation with Imperial succession rights. Public debate continues over how to ensure a stable succession, but a conclusion has remained elusive for years due to a lack of momentum among the public for a swift resolution. The survey also asked about approval of a female member of the Imperial Family ascending to the throne. Seventy percent supported the idea, while 6% opposed it, 23% answered "can't say either way" and 1% did not respond. Although a simple comparison cannot be made due to the difference in survey methods, a similar poll in May 2024 found 81% support and 10% opposition for female succession. Over the past two decades, surveys by the Mainichi Shimbun have consistently shown support for a female emperor ranging from just under 70% to just under 90%. After then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration established an expert panel to consider the possibility, a February 2005 survey reported 87% approval, while in September 2006, just after Prince Hisahito's birth, approval stood at 72%. The May 2024 survey took place as Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, began full-fledged official duties after starting work at the Japanese Red Cross Society. The most recent survey was conducted for the first time since Prince Hisahito held his coming-of-age press conference and entered university. These circumstances may have influenced opinion trends. Approval for a female emperor by political party lines was: 72% among supporters of the ruling coalition's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), 78% among backers of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, 76% among Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party) followers, 67% for the Democratic Party for the People, 80% for Reiwa Shinsengumi and just under 80% for both LDP coalition partner Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party. Among unaffiliated respondents, support was 69%. The online poll was carried out via the "d-Survey" method targeting smartphone users, based on a questionnaire service used by members of NTT Docomo Inc.'s "d Point Club" rewards program. Respondents were randomly selected from around 74 million users aged 18 and above across Japan, and valid responses were obtained from 2,045 people.
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Japan Times
Princess Aiko to visit Laos in November as first official foreign trip
Princess Aiko will visit Laos in November, her first official visit overseas, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. According to the agency, Japan received an invitation from Laos this month as the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. After flying to Laos by civil aircraft, the princess will make a courtesy visit to Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith. She will also attend a commemorative anniversary event. The exact date of her trip has yet to be decided. In 2006, the princess, then 4, accompanied her parents, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, on their trip to the Netherlands. When she was a second-year student of Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School in 2018, she studied at Eton College in Britain on a short summer program. Imperial Family members have visited Laos four times, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko in 1999 and Emperor Naruhito in 2012 as crown prince.
22-05-2025
- Politics
64 Pct OK Female Members to Retain Imperial Status: Jiji Poll
News from Japan May 22, 2025 18:45 (JST) Tokyo, May 22 (Jiji Press)--Nearly two-thirds of respondents think female members of the Japanese Imperial Family should retain their status after marriage, a Jiji Press opinion poll showed Thursday. While 64.9 pct of respondents backed that idea, 10.7 pct opposed it and a total of 24.3 pct had no opinion or were not sure. The poll also asked whether respondents agree that male members in the paternal line of 11 former Imperial Family branches, which left the Imperial Family after the end of World War II, should be adopted back into the family. This idea was supported by 39.2 pct of respondents, while those who opposed it or either had no opinion or were not sure accounted for 22.2 pct and 38.6 pct, respectively. These ideas have been proposed to ensure stable Imperial succession amid a decline in the number of Imperial Family members. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
