Princess Aiko marks her 10th birthday
TOKYO —
Princess Aiko, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, and granddaughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, turned 10 on Thursday.
Aiko was hospitalized due to pneumonia last month, but has fully recoved, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Aiko, who is a student at Gakushuin Primary School in Tokyo, stayed away from school for a long time last year and this year after reportedly encountering rough behavior by boys in her grade. She had to be accompanied by her mother to school for about 18 months, but has been going by herself since the end of September.
Japan Today
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0
tokyokawasaki
Happy birthday Aiko. It would have been nice to see a photo of your playing or something... But sorry, that is an awful photo. I bet the old dinosaurs with the IHA think it's very modern and fresh.
3
Mirai Hayashi
Every photo of her is an awful photo
0
Jared Norman
All the pics of her are professionally done under FBI standards maybe they can shift to the 21st century
-1
edojin
Happy birthday my little princess. Haven't seen you in person
3
cleo
Wow, tempus fugit. Ten years old. Happy birthday, I hope your Mum made you a trifle and a cake with candles on.
Nice doggie. I would be very happy if her family´s custom of adopting rescue dogs would rub off on the general population.
5
Harry_Gatto
Cleo, you took the words right out of my mouth - Happy Birthday kid. Her dog looks just like mine and mine is a rescued dog too.
-14
T_rexmaxytime
BANZAI! We are witnessing God incarnate here people! Behold the high priestess of Shinto!
-5
Yubaru
I wish her a happy birthday and also hope that someone gets her into counselling so she can learn how to interact with us commoners in her future.
4
Elbuda Mexicano
Wow!! Already 10?? Omedetogozaimasu!!
4
taj
JapanToday, It's unfortunate that you focused so much attention on this child's recent difficulties. (And on her birthday, fer crissake!) Couldn't you have said something about her pet, for instance, instead?
-1
Yubaru
People you all can "bad" my post all you want but she, not in any way her fault at all, has been raised in a near cloistered lifestyle and many of the problems she has with her classmates comes from that life she has been raised in.
She will never become the Empress and like her father's sister will eventually have to leave the imperial household and marry a "commoner" someday in her future, if marriage is in fact a part of her future.
She needs to be taught how to live outside of the Palace. I sincerely wish her a Happy Birthday, but also wish her a normal life, as normal as be be expected in the circumstances that she is being raised.
1
Nicky Washida
Really Cleo? I didnt know that and I am slightly impressed that they take in rescue dogs. Wonder how many of Lizzies corgis were rescued? ;)
Yubaru I agree with you and I will thumb you up to balance it out somewhat! I agree with you it is not her fault. I dont think it is even her parents fault. It is the IHA that seem to have a stranglehold on that family and dictate every move they make. I have never met the emperor or empress but I am always strangely moved by the warmth in their eyes. I would love to invite them over for a cuppa and a chat. I find them far more approachable than my Queen in England to be honest.
Elbuda - I KNOW! Scary, isnt it?! My own firstborn will be 8 next birthday, and I am certain just last month she was only just starting to walk! Where does the time go?
-1
Yubaru
Nicky it's ok, really, and thank you. I think that people hit that good and bad without really considering or thinking about what might be behind the post.
It is scary, my firstborn will be 25 next year and she still is having a hard time trying to decide what to do with her life.
-2
tmarie
Happy birthday. I hope you are able to go to school on your on from here on in like a big girl.
1
bicultural
She resembles her father a bit too much in my opinion, but a bit harsh to be bashing a 10 year old girl, no?
1
Yubaru
A bit too much? For the life of me please explain how she has any choice in the matter on how she looks?
4
Tamarama
Y'know, recently I was part of a rather exclusive and special event whereby the Queen of England visited my place of work, and although I didn't meet her myself in the highly scripted course of events, I could have reached over and tapped her on the back a couple of times had a sudden bout of madness overcome me. She seemed nice to me. Gracious, dignified and highly capable. Good with people, chatty, personable. But one thing really struck me about her visit. What a hell of a job it is to be a Royal Family member. A job I am ever so glad I don't have. Everywhere she goes and every little thing she does is watched by cameras and people non stop. Throngs of people line roadways to watch you sit in a car. It's unbelievable. I feel this way about this little girl too. I feel sorry for her that she will not lead a normal life. The facile amongst us will of course point to the fact that she is rich, and will never want for anything and lives a life of privelige...which might seem all well and good looking from the outside in, but all the tea in China couldn't get me to swap places with a Royal. I have a mixture of respect and sympathy for them. It is, after all, what drove Siddhatha Gautama from his palace in search of truth. Happy birthday Aiko.
0
Yubaru
In reality she and her family are really is nothing like the Queen of England. They have no holdings or have any estates and in reality are not "rich". They live by a stipend of the government and do not have any need of money. From that point alone one may consider them rich, as they do not have to "work" for a living.
1
pawatan
Happy birthday young lady. I hope for many happy birthdays for you in the future!
2
yabits
Many, many happy returns of this day, Princess Aiko.
I'm glad to know you've completely recovered from your recent illness.
1
CrazyJoe
Happy birthday Aiko. Yuri looks good too.
-2
tmarie
They have no holdings or have any estates and in reality are not "rich". They live by a stipend of the government and do not have any need of money. From that point alone one may consider them rich, as they do not have to "work" for a living.
Most expensive welfare receipts ever!!
0
Jannetto
The only way my 10 year old would be persuaded to wear those awful granny clothes would be if we let her have a rescue puppy - oh, wait...
have followed her with interest, being an old mum of a 10 year old myself & agree it would be nice to see a pic of her playing. Wasn't Masako quite well dressed before the IHA got their mitts on her? Bird in a gilded cage etc. - mother and daughter. Poor kid - and she looks like daddy too.
Well, happy birthday, hope they don't change the succession rules, then you can escape some day.
0
BurakuminDes
The dog needs a good feed. Looking starved. Happy birthday,cute little Aiko-chan! May you have many many more great birthdays!
-3
m6bob
Everyone, lay off. Aiko-sama is having a hard enough time without all the ojisans & obasans giving unwanted comments. Good on yer, Aiko-sama!
1
Bartholomew Harte
Does bullying in gradeschool extend to every school in japan? I would imagine this young lady's station in life would protect her. Happy Birthday to the princess!
1
DentShop
Hahaha what a lame-o!
1
Kieran Byfield
Omadetogozaimasu Aiko sama & God bless Queen Elizabeth II!
0
Joseph Perry
Is that a Shiba or Akita inu? Would say Shiba, but it seems a bit bigger... but what do I know.
0
herefornow
My birthday wish to her is that she accomplish just one meaningful thing in her life. Other royals round the world are doing great things for charity and humanitarian causes. Just look at Kate. Let's hope she comes out from behind all the walls and moats asshe grows older and actually does something meaningful.
0
Fadamor
Exactly. A canary in a pretty cage to look at, but you can't let it out because you lose control over what happens to it. This is true of most offspring of countries' leaders (whether figureheads or those with actual power). I'm sure Obama's daughters are absolutely joyous over not being able to do anything spontaneous outside the confines of the White House. Anywhere they want to go has to be vetted by the Secret Service prior to it happening. When you're a designated national treasure, you have no life of your own.
0
Yubaru
Fadamor I would not go so far as to equate Obama's kid to Aiko and call them national treasures. Obama's only lasts as long as he is in office, her's can be for a lifetime.
0
Tamarama
Yubaru
Right. So you are saying that the people of Japan take care of their every need and want by providing for them financially? I would certainly consider that a form of being wealthy. I am also guessing there would be a large percentage of the world's population that would agree with me. Do you know how much it happens to be each year?
0
Mirai Hayashi
REALLY? ...really... if that is the definition of not being rich, then I have been going in the wrong direction all my life. Horse driven carriages, first class fights, a fully furnished and serviced palace in Tokyo, and a chauffeured limo. Where do I sign up for this welfare program because it sounds really nice to me.
1
Nicky Washida
Im 38 and still trying to figure it out! Dont worry - she will be fine. She has a good dad as a role model ;-) !
As for the royal/commoner debate. i think it is pretty hard to compare J and UK royals. Harry and William used to come to my local Pizza Hut! They have all the freedom (within security boundaries) they could want. Harry was rolling up joints in front of his police protection officers for Gods sake! I dont think that was the case a generation ago, but they seem to be having a nice life now. The J royals really are in a gilded cage though and I do feel sorry for them.
0
Pat Fonta
Princess Aiko just be yourself, because you never want normal problems like the ones that the duplicates have. most of society is brainwashed by tv, radio, news , and other public media.
0
tmarie
REALLY? ...really... if that is the definition of not being rich, then I have been going in the wrong direction all my life. Horse driven carriages, first class fights, a fully furnished and serviced palace in Tokyo, and a chauffeured limo. Where do I sign up for this welfare program because it sounds really nice to me.
You value that stuff more than you freedom? Feel free! I am sure the princess would be more than happy for you to take her place.
-1
Mirai Hayashi
If I were them (the crowned prince or whatever, I'd jump into a car and go grocery shopping like everyone else. It might attract a lot of attention at first, but eventually people will get use to if its down enough times
Its a culture that they brought amongst themselves. If they associated with the public more, instead of sitting so high and mighty on their imperial pedestals above the peasant folks, then maybe they can do things in public without attracting a lot of attention. At least Prince Harry's got the right idea by trying to be the average guy instead of a snooty little royal like his grandmother.
-1
tmarie
Good luck with that. Seems you don't have a clue about how the royal family in Japan works.
I agree with you about needing to be a little more normal and the like but I don't think that is their fault.
1
supercross1985
Happy Birthday young Princess Aiko. Nice pet she has,looks a very bright and alert dog.
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