The Imperial FamilyActivities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and other Members of the Imperial FamilyTheir Majesties the Emperor and EmpressActivities of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako (until April 30, 2019)
His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, accompanied by Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess attend 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 and official guests from overseas, Their Imperial Highnesses attend welcome ceremonies, Court luncheons and State banquets at the Imperial Palace. In addition, on the occasion of palace rituals, Their Imperial Highnesses follow Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress in paying their respects at the Palace Sanctuary.
Their Imperial Highnesses attend 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, and on such occasions Their Imperial Highnesses have also been able to observe for themselves the status of the various regions of Japan.
The work of Their Imperial Highnesses include such official duties at the Crown Prince's Residence as meeting with dignitaries from Japan and overseas, including 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.
His Imperial Highness has been Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society since April 1989. In addition, His Imperial Highness was appointed as Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation from November 2007 to December 2015, and as Honorary President on behalf of Japan for the “150th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Denmark” from January to December 2017.
Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess has also been an Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society since April 1994.
On such occasions as the overseas visits of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, His Imperial Highness is temporarily delegated duties pertaining to acts in matters of State on behalf of His Majesty.
In order to foster international goodwill, Their Imperial Highnesses 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 to New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia in 2002.
In February 1999 Their Imperial Highnesses traveled to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to attend the funeral of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan. In December 1999 Their Imperial Highnesses visited the Kingdom of Belgium on the occasion of the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philippe, and in 2013 Their Imperial Highnesses visited the Kingdom of the Netherlands to attend the investiture ceremony of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. In 2015 Their Imperial Highnesses visited the Kingdom of Tonga to attend the coronation ceremony of His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga.
For the purposes of fostering international goodwill, His Imperial Highness visited the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2001, Mongolia in 2007, the Federative Republic of Brazil in June 2008, Spain in July 2008, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in 2009, the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Kenya in 2010, the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 2012, Spain in 2013, Switzerland in 2014, Malaysia in April 2017, the Kingdom of Denmark in June 2017, and France in 2018.
With regard to water-related issues, in 2006 His Imperial Highness visited the United Mexican States to attend the 4th World Water Forum and in 2009 traveled to the Republic of Turkey to attend the 5th World Water Forum. In 2013 His Imperial Highness traveled to the United States of America to attend the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters. In 2015 His Imperial Highness traveled to the United States to attend the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters and also the final meeting of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. In 2018 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Federative Republic of Brazil to attend the 8th World Water Forum.
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 May 2004, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Denmark to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik, and also 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 September 2004 His Imperial Highness traveled to Brunei Darussalam to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah. In 2008 His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Tonga to attend the coronation of His Majesty King George Tupou V. In 2010 His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Sweden to attend the wedding of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria. In 2012, His Imperial Highness visited the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
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 2011 and 2012 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to offer condolences on the demise of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, respectively. In 2013 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Republic of South Africa to attend the national memorial services for His Excellency Mr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Former President of the Republic of South Africa. In 2015 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pay condolences on the demise of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
In April 1992 His Imperial Highness received a commission as a visiting research fellow at the Gakushuin University Museum of History, where he 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, and from 2008 to 2017.
With regard to water-related 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 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. On the occasion of his visit to Turkey in March 2009, His Imperial Highness delivered a keynote speech entitled "Interacting with Water: Close Ties between Humans and Water" at the 5th World Water Forum. In March 2012, at the 6th World Water Forum in France, His Imperial Highness delivered a keynote speech via video message entitled "Water and Disaster: Learning from the history of tsunamis." In March 2013, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Imperial Highness delivered a keynote address entitled "Revisiting the history of interaction between human being and water-related disasters: Exploration to find a hint for more disaster-resilient society." In April 2015, at the 7th World Water Forum in Korea, His Imperial Highness delivered a keynote message via video entitled “Fulfilling People`s Aspirations on Water: The Relation between Water and People through Science and Technology.” In November 2015, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Imperial Highness gave a keynote lecture entitled “Quest for Better Relations between People and Water.” In July 2017, at the United Nations Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters in the United States of America, His Imperial Highness sent a video message entitled “Working with Water.” In March 2018, His Imperial Highness gave a keynote lecture entitled “Water to Bring About Prosperity, Peace and Happiness” to the High Level Panel on Water and Disasters at the 8th World Water Forum in Brazil.
In addition, 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 started her third year at the Gakushuin Girl's Senior High School from April 2019 and continues to grow in good health.
Pictures of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
