Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako

His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito attends, together with Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako, events and ceremonies within the Imperial Palace, including ceremonies for the New Year and other events such as Their Majesties' Garden Parties. On the occasion of visits by State guests from overseas, Their Imperial Highnesses attend welcome receptions, Court luncheons and State banquets at the Imperial Palace. In addition, on certain days of the year determined by tradition, Their Imperial Highnesses join Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress in paying their respects to the Imperial ancestors at the Palace Sanctuary.

His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince attends, together with Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, a variety of ceremonies, international and national tournaments and other events held in Japan. Important events Their Imperial Highnesses have attended include the National Awards Ceremony for the Promotion of Blood Donation, the National Inter-High School Championship, the National Cultural Festival, the National Tree-Care Festival, the National Sports Games for the Disabled, the Protect the Greenery Gathering, and the National Leaders of Agriculture Summit, during the course of which Their Imperial Highnesses have also been able to review for themselves the regions of Japan.

The work of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess includes such official duties at the Crown Prince's Residence as meeting with dignitaries from Japan and overseas, receiving Japanese ambassadors and their spouses before their postings abroad and receiving foreign ambassadors and their spouses before their departure from Japan. Their Imperial Highnesses also meet with foreign study groups visiting Japan and representatives of domestic youth groups.

In addition to serving as Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society, in November 2007 His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince was appointed as Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, and in October 2010 he became the Honorary President of "150 Years of Friendship between Germany and Japan."

Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess has also been an Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society since April 1994.

His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince takes on duties pertaining to matters of state, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, on such occasions as Their Majesties' visits overseas.

Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have made visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Bahrain in 1994, to the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1995, and again to Jordan in 1999. Additionally in 1999, Their Imperial Highnesses visited the Kingdom of Belgium on the occasion of the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philippe. In 2002, Their Imperial Highnesses paid a visit to New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia.

In 2001, His Imperial Highness paid a visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He visited the United Mexican States in 2006 and Mongolia in 2007. In 2008, he paid a visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil to commemorate the centennial of Japanese emigration to Brazil, as well as to Spain on the occasion of the 2008 Zaragoza International Exposition and to the Kingdom of Tonga to attend the coronation of King George Tupou V. In February 2009, His Imperial Highness paid a visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, following the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam. In March 2009, His Imperial Highness traveled to the Republic of Turkey to attend the 5th World Water Forum. Furthermore in March 2010, His Imperial Highness visited the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Kenya to foster international goodwill.

In addition, in 2002, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of the Netherlands to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange. In 2004, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Denmark to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik, and visited the Kingdom of Spain to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, Don Felipe de Borbon y Grecia. His Imperial Highness also visited the Portuguese Republic while in Europe at that time. In the same year His Imperial Highness traveled to Brunei Darussalam to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah. In 2005 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pay condolences on the demise of King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. In 2006 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Tonga to attend the state funeral of His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. In 2010, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Sweden to attend the wedding of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria.

Since April 1992, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has received a commission as a visiting research fellow at the Gakushuin University Museum of History and has continued his research on Japanese medieval history. In November 2003, he gave a lecture at the Gakushuin Women's College entitled, "British Society and Culture: The Source of North American Culture," and since then has given lectures in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

With regard to water issues, in March 2003, in his capacity as Honorary President of the 3rd World Water Forum, His Imperial Highness delivered a memorial speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum entitled, "Waterways Connecting Kyoto and Local Regions - Focusing on Ancient and Medieval Water Transport on Lake Biwa and Yodo River -". On the occasion of his visit to Mexico in March 2006, His Imperial Highness delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 4th World Water Forum entitled, "Edo and Water Transport". In December 2007, His Imperial Highness delivered the commemorative lecture at the opening ceremony of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit, entitled "Humans and Water: From Japan to the Asia-Pacific Region". In addition, in July 2008, on the occasion of his visit to Spain, His Imperial Highness delivered a special lecture entitled "Living with Water - Human ingenuity and wisdom" at the "Water Tribune" Symposium of the 2008 Zaragoza International Exposition. Also, His Imperial Highness, on the occasion of his visit to Turkey in March 2009, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Interacting with Water - Close Ties between Humans and Water" at the 5th World Water Forum.

In addition, the fruits of His Imperial Highness' studies while in the United Kingdom culminated in an English-language paper, "The Thames as Highway," which was published in April 1989. In September 1991 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Oxford.

His Imperial Highness is a sportsman and music lover, being an avid tennis player and also enjoying mountaineering and jogging. He is an accomplished violist.

Her Imperial Highness is also a sports and music lover, in particular tennis and skiing.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko will start her fourth year at the Gakushuin Primary School from April 2011. Her Imperial Highness continues to grow in good health.

Personal Histories of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess

Pictures of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess