Latest news with #JapaneseRedCrossSociety
Asahi Shimbun
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Princess Aiko to make 1st official visit overseas this autumn
Hotel officials welcome Princess Aiko on May 18 during her first visit to Ishikawa Prefecture after the 2024 earthquake. (Koichi Ueda) Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, will make her first official visit overseas this fall. The Imperial Household Agency announced May 23 that Aiko will visit the Southeast Asian nation in November for celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Agency officials said Laos had invited Aiko, 23, and she will take part in a range of anniversary events. She will likely meet Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, agency officials said. Japan maintains good relations with Laos, a socialist nation in the Indochina Peninsula. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made Laos one of his stops last October on his first overseas visit after taking office. Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone visited Japan in January. Aiko graduated from Gakushuin University in Tokyo in spring 2024 and has been working at the Japanese Red Cross Society. She has also been immersed in various official duties as an adult member of the imperial household, including observing a national sports competition in Saga Prefecture and visiting the Osaka Kansai Expo earlier this month. On May 18 and 19, she made her first visit to a disaster-stricken area, going to the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture which was hit by a magnitude-7.6 earthquake on New Year's Day 2024. She has also been active in international goodwill events, such as inviting diplomats in Japan to the Shinhama Kamoba (Shinhama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve) in Chiba Prefecture in February. She also attended a banquet at the Imperial Palace for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in March. The last time an imperial household member made an official visit to Laos was 2012 when Aiko's father went when he was still crown prince. Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko have also visited Laos.
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.
13-05-2025
- Health
Empress Masako Attends Convention for Japanese Red Cross
News from Japan Society May 13, 2025 20:44 (JST) Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Empress Masako attended a convention of the Japanese Red Cross Society in Tokyo on Tuesday. As honorary president of the organization, the Empress presented medals to 13 individuals and group representatives for their outstanding Red Cross activities. Among the awardees was Shinji Inada, a 60-year-old doctor who was involved in relief efforts following the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan and a heavy rain disaster that hit the area in September of that year. The event was also joined by Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko and Princess Hisako, all honorary vice presidents of the organization. The support side must have also faced significant challenges, the Empress said to Inada after the event, adding, "Please take care of yourself." [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Princess Aiko delivers first official address
Princess Aiko delivered an address at the opening ceremony of the 23rd meeting of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) in Tokyo on Saturday. It was the first time the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako has made an address as part of her official duty. The princess noted that Japan has overhauled and upgraded its medical system through its experiences with major disasters, such as the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. "I believe this meeting is a meaningful opportunity to pass on your rich experiences and knowledge to young generations who will play major roles in the future," she added. Princess Aiko, who works for the Japanese Red Cross Society, has been interested in emergency medical care and disaster rescue activities, according to the Imperial Household Agency. On April 23, she received explanations on these topics from experts including Yasuhiro Otomo, head of the National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Otomo serves as the chair of the organizing committee for the latest WADEM meeting.
The Mainichi
03-05-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Japan's Princess Aiko delivers 1st official address at int'l medical conference in Tokyo
TOKYO -- Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, delivered her first official address May 3 at the opening ceremony of an international medical conference in Tokyo, stating, "As disasters become more severe and frequent worldwide, the importance of disaster medical care and emergency medicine is increasing more than ever." Princess Aiko expressed her expectations for the 23rd Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, a conference held by the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine, which draws young researchers from various countries. Before attending the opening ceremony, Princess Aiko received a lecture in late April at the Imperial Residence from experts including Yasuhiro Otomo, the director of the National Disaster Medical Center and chairperson of the association's organizing committee. According to Otomo, the princess, who works at the Japanese Red Cross Society, which does relief and rescue work during disasters, showed a keen interest in disaster medical care. In her speech, Princess Aiko stated, "It is crucial to establish support systems for foreigners, pregnant women and infants, as well as to provide medium- to long-term support including mental health care for disaster victims." She added, "Building a system where everyone's dignity is protected and they can receive appropriate medical and health services is extremely important."
