The Mikasa Family Thread

On April 21st, Princess Nobuko attended the 39th Empress Cup All Japan Women's Judo Championships at Yokohama Budokan in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Photo: 第39回皇后盃全日本女子柔道選手権大会（24.4.21） | 全日本柔道連盟

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On April 29th, Princess Nobuko attended the Reiwa 6 (2024) All Japan Judo Championships at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Photos: AFLO Images

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On May 4th, Princess Akiko attended the purification ceremony (Misogi-no-gi) of the Aoi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto.

Photos/video:
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better photos of Princess Akiko at the purification ceremony (Misogi-no-gi) on on May 4 before the Aoi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine. The festival is held on May 15.

AP Images, Mainichi

On March 22nd, Princess Yohko visited Matsushita Care and homes of users of the communication support device Commune in Kagoshima Prefecture. Residents and Matsushita Care staff were too nervous but Princess Yohko's friendly and kind personality put people at ease. She spoke slowly using the device and everyone regained their composure.

Princess Yohko also worked with residents on muscle-building exercises devised by Kanoya University of Physical Education and had a lively conversation with a 98 year old resident. All were moved by the royal visit and reenergized.

Matsushita Care provides services such as home care, day service, housekeeping, exercise, hospital visit assistance, etc. Princess Yohko visited Kagoshima Prefecture March 22-24 for the Welfare Equipment Exhibition and Seminar.

Photos: matsushita-care.com

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On May 4th, Princess Yohko privately attended Round 2 of the 2024 Autobacs Super GT series, "Fuji GT 3 Hours Race" at Fuji Speedway in Shizuoka Prefecture.

On May 7th, Princess Yōko attended 81th All Japan Three Cushion Championship (billiards) at the Yorigaseki Sports Building in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Source/photos: Facebook

Updates from Princess Akiko's cultural organization Shinyusha

On March 30th, the first session of this year’s 3-part cooking class on bento was held. Participants made a cherry blossom bento under the guidance of chef Masato Miyazawa from Kyoto restaurant Doppo: boiled scallops with bamboo shoots, deep-fried lotus root and shrimp.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

On April 20th, Shinyusha held its Reiwa 6 (2024) Annual Meeting and Gratitude Gathering at Kyoto Brighton Hotel. The event began with a talk session between Princess Akiko, embroidery artist Toshiaki Nagakusa and rakugo performer Tatekawa Shinohachi about the differences between Kanto and Kansai. Then, the 2023 business report and 2024 business plan were announced with discussion on new workshop ideas. Plans include a lacquer Noh project to be held in November for Noto earthquake recovery.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

On May 11th, the “Japanese tea recommendations: How to enjoy tea according to the situation” online workshop was held. Panelists covered teas for morning, noon and evening such as hoijcha with ginger at night.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

On May 16th, Princess Akiko attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 DUNLOP CUP / 45th National Junior Tennis Championships at Yoshida Memorial Tennis Training Center in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture.

Photo: Facebook - Tennis.TTC

The group photo with Princess Akiko from Tennis.TTC has been removed. Luckily, I saved it earlier and found other photos:
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On May 15th, Princess Akiko attended the Aoi Festival at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto.

On May 19th, Princess Yohko attended the awards and closing ceremony of the 2024 DUNLOP CUP / 45th National Junior Tennis Championships at Yoshida Memorial Tennis Training Center in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture.

Photo: ameblo.jp blog - sakamuratennis

Prisma said:

Updates from Princess Akiko's cultural organization Shinyusha

On March 30th, the first session of this year’s 3-part cooking class on bento was held. Participants made a cherry blossom bento under the guidance of chef Masato Miyazawa from Kyoto restaurant Doppo: boiled scallops with bamboo shoots, deep-fried lotus root and shrimp.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

On April 20th, Shinyusha held its Reiwa 6 (2024) Annual Meeting and Gratitude Gathering at Kyoto Brighton Hotel. The event began with a talk session between Princess Akiko, embroidery artist Toshiaki Nagakusa and rakugo performer Tatekawa Shinohachi about the differences between Kanto and Kansai. Then, the 2023 business report and 2024 business plan were announced with discussion on new workshop ideas. Plans include a lacquer Noh project to be held in November for Noto earthquake recovery.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

On May 11th, the “Japanese tea recommendations: How to enjoy tea according to the situation” online workshop was held. Panelists covered teas for morning, noon and evening such as hoijcha with ginger at night.

Photos: Facebook - Shinyusha

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HIH Princess Akiko certainly seems to be a very active , and involved individual in may aspects of Japanese society .

On May 25th, Princess Nobuko attended the opening ceremony of Tokyo Flower Carpet 2024 at Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center in Chuo, Tokyo.

Photos:
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Princess Yuriko turned 101 on June 4 and remains in recovery at St. Luke's International Hospital.

Princess Yuriko, Oldest in Japan's Imperial Family, Turns 101 | Nippon.com

[...] Princess Yuriko is staying at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo from March 3 after being diagnosed with a mild case of cerebral infarction and aspiration pneumonia. She is able to communicate and is rehabilitating such as seating in a wheelchair, but she cannot eat or drink, the agency said.

Buichiro Kuroda, vice head of the agency, said that the organization is paying close attention to the princess given her very old age, although she is in stable condition. [...]

Click to expand...

More about Princess Yuriko on the occasion of her 101st birthday:

- According to NHK, Princesses Akiko, Hisako and Tsuguko visited her at the St. Luke's International Hospital today on the occasion of her birthday. Princess Akiko carried a bouquet of flowers.
- Hiroko Mizushima, of the Association for the Promotion of the Culture of Ethnic Costumes, a close friend of Princess Yuriko, who has worked to spread kimono culture for many years and met her at a party to celebrate her 100th birthday last year, said: "This is the 101st birthday. I hope her healing continues and improves. I would be happy if I could see her in good health again. I am deeply grateful for our relationship, and even if only to a small extent, I hope that she will please continue to watch over me forever".

NHK included a photo of Princess Yuriko at the event on her 100th birthday last year in the video in the article:


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Granddaughter Princess Akiko gave an interview to FNN on the occasion of Princess Yuriko's 101st birthday, and said: "She has spent most of her time now, in a wheelchair. Lately, the amount of time she's been able to do things has been increasing little by little, and the number of things she's able to do on her own, like using her hands, has increased".

Article: FNN

Princess Akiko's June article for "Into Japan Waraku" is about her grandfather Prince Mikasa and Japanese dance.

People incorrectly think she is an expert on Japanese performing arts because she often attends kabuki, noh, and other traditional performances. She has never considered learning such arts. While Princess Akiko has many friends and acquaintances in these areas, it is a different relationship from master and friend to master and student. She has also seen so many great performances that training now would be a frustrating experience.

However, grandfather Prince Mikasa studied Japanese dance. He tried a variety of dance styles, including square dancing, folk dancing, social dancing, ice dancing, and jazz dancing. After retiring from ice dancing, Prince Mikasa at around age 70 began taking lessons in 1989 from a classmate's daughter who was a teacher from the Hanayagi school. He had lessons about twice a month at home. He collected many books and materials about Japanese dance, including 60 reports.

After several months of training, the first performance was held on April 6, 1990, in the dining room of the Mikasa residence, where Prince Mikasa performed three pieces: the Nagauta Fujimusume, the Suehirogi Tarokaja, and Tokimasa, with Princess Yuriko acting as the sound engineer. A proper program was prepared, and a "backstage procedure chart" detailed the timing of turning on the cassette deck, the procedure for opening and closing the door, and how far to rewind the cassette tape. Princess Akiko's cousin Tadahiro Konoe wore a "Press" armband, was in charge of photography, and the friendly but serious atmosphere of the family was endearing.

Source/photos: 「えー！」と思わず声が出たことも。祖父・三笠宮殿下の「日本舞踊」のお姿【彬子女王殿下が次世代に伝えたい日本文化】　｜　和樂web 美の国ニッポンをもっと知る！

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Princess Akiko's memoir of her time at Oxford "Red and blue gown: Oxford study abroad record" was republished in April and has become a bestseller, selling over 100,000 copies. She granted an exclusive interview to Fuji TV.