Crown Princess Kiko Reflects on Family Milestones as She Celebrates 59th Birthday

On September 11, Crown Princess Kiko celebrated her 59th birthday, reminiscing about a year filled with important milestones for her family. This year was especially notable as her son, Prince Hisahito, recently celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony on September 6, while her eldest daughter welcomed a new child into the family.

In her reflections, Kiko conveyed a sense of gratitude for her husband, Crown Prince Fumihito, who worked diligently to ensure the traditional imperial practices were passed down to Hisahito. She noted that there was a limited number of staff members familiar with the history of these coming-of-age rituals, prompting the family to research archives and seek expert guidance to prepare for the ceremony.

This year, the 19-year-old Prince engaged closely with both his father, who had experienced the same rite four decades ago, and experts to better understand the significance of the ceremony and his future responsibilities. Kiko expressed pride in witnessing his development as he began a new chapter as a first-year student at the University of Tsukuba, where he is adjusting to life as a student, including registering for classes and managing assignments remotely.

Notably, Hisahito has also started cooking for himself and occasionally transports vegetables from the family estate to his new residence in Tsukuba. Kiko remarked on the maturity she sees in him as he learns to navigate life between Tokyo and Tsukuba, sharing insights into his living arrangements and responsibilities.

Regarding studying abroad, she hinted that this could be a future consideration for Hisahito. She also mentioned that he has obtained his driver's license and enjoys driving the cherished yellow Volkswagen Beetle with his father.

When discussing her eldest daughter, Mako Komuro, Kiko expressed excitement about Mako having her first child and is hopeful for a visit back to Japan. She shared her vision of a serene family moment spent together in the garden, reflecting on the joy the new addition brings to their family.