Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and her family

Photo Description
Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Takamado
Prince and Princess Takamado view the "Wonderful Planet" exhibition of photographs taken by Prince Takamado.
(Photo: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado passed away on 21 November 2002. He was 47 years old.

In addition to their official duties together, the late Prince promoted international exchange through his work at the Japan Foundation and through his support of various kinds of foreign language speech contests. His Highness readily took on the role of honorary patron of organisations and events which would foster international goodwill. His Highness was active in his support of the various arts, particularly music and dance, and of various different sports. His Highness was also very much involved with environmental issues and education.

Over the years, Their Imperial Highnesses officially visited many countries in response to invitations from foreign governments. Most recently, Their Highnesses officially visited Egypt and Morocco in May 2000 and the Republic of Korea from May to June 2002. The latter was in order to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan and was an important step in the promotion of friendly bilateral relations between Japan and Korea.

Since the passing of His Imperial Highness the late Prince Takamado, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado has carried on His Imperial Highness' wishes and has continued to make efforts to foster international goodwill.

In addition to her duties as an Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross and other positions that she already held, Her Imperial Highness accepted all of the Honorary Patron or Honorary President positions that were held by the late Prince in the hope that she would be able to continue carrying out his wishes. These include the Canada-Japan Society, the Japan Football Association and the Japan Lifeboat Institution.

In March 2004, Her Highness succeeded Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan as Honorary President of BirdLife International, a global alliance of non-governmental conservation organisations working in more than 120 countries. With the establishment of the International Kyudo Federation in May 2006, Her Highness agreed to become its Honorary Chairman. Her Highness is also the Honorary President of the Prince Takamado Memorial Foundation for Japan-Korea Exchange.

In June 2015, Her Imperial Highness was privileged to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Duke of Värmland, and Miss Sofia Kristina Hellqvist Bernadotte in Stockholm, Sweden. In October 2015, Her Highness travelled to Poland to be present at the Warsaw Film Festival Japan Night. She also attended the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition, which is held every five years, and revisited the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, which was opened by His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado together with President Lech Walesa in 1994.

In April 2016, at the invitation of His Majesty the King of Sweden, Her Imperial Highness traveled to Sweden to participate in the celebrations for His Majesty the King of Sweden's 70th birthday.

In July 2016, Her Imperial Highness traveled to the Netherlands to attend events commemorating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the International Kyudo Federation as Honorary Chairman. Her Imperial Highness attended the opening ceremony of the exchange demonstration and heard about the activities of the Netherlands Kyudo Federation.

In July 2017, Her Imperial Highness visited Ireland on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan. Her Highness paid a call on President Michael D. Higgins and later launched the exhibition “Preserved in Partnership: Treasures of Japanese Art” at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.

In June 2018, Her Imperial Highness visited Russia. In her capacity as Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association, Her Highness offered her support to the Japanese national team by attending FIFA World Cup matches in Saransk and Yekaterinburg, and visiting the Team Base Camp in Kazan. In her capacity as Honorary Chairman of the International Kyudo Federation, Her Highness attended the “Russia-Japan Kyudo Kōryū Embu-Kai and Seminar” in Yekaterinburg.

In February, 2019 Her Imperial Highness travelled to the United Kingdom in order to give the Founders’ Memorial Lecture at Girton College, Cambridge, as it celebrated the 150th year of its foundation.

In May, 2019 Her Imperial Highness travelled to Sweden to take part in Dementia Forum X, held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

In August, 2019 Her Imperial Highness visited Canada on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan.The six city tour included Toronto, Ottawa, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria. In Ottawa, Her Imperial Highness paid a call on the Governor General Ms. Julie Payette.

Since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, many events have been cancelled or postponed. Her Imperial Highness has continued to carry out her many official activities, sometimes in person, but always strictly in accordance with the wishes of the organisers and on the condition that all safety measures concerning the infection were in place as stipulated or recommended by the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government, and the various prefectural governments. Many events, ceremonies, and meetings, were conducted online or in a hybrid fashion, and Her Imperial Highness was pleased to attend them as requested. Her Imperial Highness has also sent recorded video messages to events and ceremonies, both within Japan and abroad.

In November and December 2022, Her Imperial Highness visited Qatar. In her capacity as Honorary Patron of the Japan Football Association, Her Highness offered her support to the Japanese national team by attending FIFA World Cup matches in Doha and visiting the Team Base Camp in Doha.

H.I.H. Princess Takamado and Princess Tsuguko visited Jordan between May 29th and June 2nd 2023, to attend the wedding ceremony of TRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein.

In June 2023, H.I.H. Princess Takamado visited the Mikkeli branch of the National Archives of Finland and attended the opening ceremony of the “Bird Photography Exhibition Photographed by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.”

H.I.H. Princess Takamado visited the United Kingdom in her capacity as Honorary president of BirdLife International to attend a BirdLife International 100th Anniversary Celebration.

Their Highnesses have three daughters.

H.I.H. Princess Tsuguko celebrated her coming-of-age in March 2006.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Her Highness returned to Japan in 2008. In March 2013, Her Highness graduated from the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University with a B.A. major in International Liberal Studies and a minor in Life Science.

Her Highness is presently working at the Japan Committee for UNICEF, but attends ceremonies and functions at the Imperial Palace and other official events. In August 2013, Her Highness visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Japan and Sri Lanka celebrated 60th years of diplomatic relations in 2012.

In July 2014, Her Highness visited Viet Nam as a member of the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

In January 2018, H.I.H. Princess Tsuguko assumed the role of Honorary President of the All Japan Archery Federation and in February 2018, Her Highness assumed the role of Honorary Chairman of the Japan Squash Association.

Since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, many events have been cancelled or postponed. H.I.H. Princess Tsuguko of Takamado has officially attended events, as well as continued with her Japan Committee for UNICEF work, often online, but sometimes in person, always strictly adhering to the safety measures against COVID-19 as stipulated or recommended by the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government, and the various prefectural governments. Her Imperial Highness has also attended events online, as well as sent recorded video messages to events.

In May/June 2023, H.I.H. Princess Tsuguko accompanied her mother, H.I.H. Princess Takamado, on a visit to Jordan to attend the wedding celebrations of TRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein.

H.I.H. Princess Noriko celebrated her coming-of-age in July 2008.

In March 2010, Her Highness graduated from Gakushuin University with a B.A. in Psychology. In October 2014, Her Imperial Highness was married to Mr. Kunimaro Senge. Her Highness had attended ceremonies and functions at the Imperial Palace and official events elsewhere until her marriage.

H.I.H. Princess Ayako celebrated her coming-of-age in September 2010.

Her Highness studied at Josai International University, graduating with a B.A. degree in Social Work Studies in March 2013. Her Highness then entered the university's graduate school and studied for 2 years at Camosun College and at the University of British Columbia in Canada as part of her program. In March 2016, Her Highness completed her studies and received an M.A. degree from the Graduate School of Social Work Studies, Josai International University.

Her Highness worked as a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Social Work Studies at Josai International University from 2016 to2019.

In July 2017, Her Highness visited Alberta, Canada at the invitation of the Mayor of Lethbridge, to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.

In January 2018, Her Highness assumed the role of Honorary Patron of the Canada-Japan Society and in February 2018, Her Highness assumed the role of Honorary President of the Japan Sea Cadet's Federation.

In October 2018, Her Imperial Highness was married to Mr.Kei Moriya. Her Highness had attended ceremonies and functions at the Imperial Palace, as well as official events elsewhere, until her marriage.

In August 2019, she assumed the role of Honorary Vice-President of the Japan Sea Cadet's Federation and Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado took over as Honorary President.