Mako, Daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, Gives Birth to First Baby

Former Japanese princess Mako and her husband Kei Komuro, both 33, recently became parents for the first time. The name and gender and birthdate of the baby have not been disclosed. Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, lost her status as a member of the Imperial Family when she married her college sweetheart in 2021. The couple live in New York, where her husband works as an attorney.

Fired for stealing

The Imperial Palace fired an employee for stealing a total of 3.6 million yen over more than a year from Emperor Naruhito and his family. The suspect is identified as an employee in his 20’s, who was one of about 80 attendants assigned to the palace or the Imperial Agency building. Officials said this has been unheard of in modern history. It is an embarrassment for the royal household. 

The situation surfaced in March during an internal investigation when a discrepancy was notice between cash in the safe and the accounting book. When a loss of 30,000 yen was detected in late March, the suspect was asked about it.  He admitted to stealing a total of 3,600,000 yen from November 2023 to late March 2025, because he had financial difficulties. The employee was dismissed and a criminal complaint was filed. The assistant manager, an employee in his 40’s, was punished with a one month pay cut for being lax in his accounting duties. The Imperial Household Agency chief Yauhiko Nishimura said the theft was “extremely regrettable”.  

I think it is very sad that the young person, who was a trusted employee, stole money, not once but several times over the course of almost a year and a half. Now the former employee is in the criminal system, with an unknown future. What “financial difficulties” would make someone do this?

The missing money was part of the 324 million yen annual budget allocated as living expenses for the emperor and empress, their daughter Princess Aiko and the emperor’s parents.

Emperor Emeritus to Undergo Heart Tests

The Imperial Household Agency Reported the Emperor Emeritus has been admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital for a heart examination. A regular checkup in April revealed a possible myocardial ischemia, a condition in which blood flow from the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is insufficient. The 91 year old Emperor Emeritus has had no symptoms. 

I will watch for additional information on his condition.

Official Imperial Family YouTube Channel Debuts Today

 

Today at 10:00 am, Japan’s Imperial Household Agency will launch its official YouTube channel to showcase the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, as well as other members of the imperial family. I look forward to watching and learning more about the imperial family. The comment section of the channel will be closed, but opinions are welcome on the Imperial Household Agency’s official website.

Update: Here’s the link 

Emperor’s Birthday

Today is the Emperor Naruhito’s birthday and a national holiday in Japan. Because his birthday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday.

He became the Emperor on May 1, 2019, following his father’s abdication. He studied history at Gakushuin University and English at Merton College, Oxford. In June 1993, he married diplomat Masako Owada and they have one daughter, Aiko. 

Happy Birthday! I hope someone makes him a carrot cake.

Prince Hisahito to Attend University of Tsukuba

 

Prince Hisahito, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the throne will attend University of Tsukuba starting in April, according to the Household Agency. He passed the university’s admission requirements and intends to study biology.

He has been interested in nature and insect research since he was very young. He began studying dragonflies as an elementary school student and published a paper with researchers in 2023 titled, “Odonata Fauna of Asaka Imperial Gardens, Tokyo: Diversity Sustained by Continuous Maintenance.”  

I remember reading about his first day of school, and now he is about to start college!

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Labor Day Holiday

Today is a national holiday to honor the hard work of laborers and give thanks. Maybe be thankful to have a job? Labor day was previously a harvest festival. 

This year, the holiday falls on a Saturday, so it doesn’t feel like a holiday. People who don’t work on Saturday don’t even get a day off from work. I’m not complaining; there are 16 national holidays in Japan, with a day off from work, plus many special observance days that aren’t national holidays.

I like that the Emperor’s birthday is a holiday in Japan. I love birthdays!

Emperor Naruhito, with wife and daughter

Do you have a favorite holiday?

Princess Yuriko Dies at Age 101

Princess Yuriko was born in 1923 to one of the elite families at the time. At age 18, Princess Yuriko married Prince Misaka, the younger brother of the late former Emperor Hirohito. 

She had been experiencing deteriorating health since last week and died on Friday, due to pneumonia. She was the oldest member of the Imperial family at 101 years old. May she rest in peace.

Empress Emerita Michiko Suffers Broken Leg

 

Former Empress Michiko lost her balance and fell Sunday evening at her home, resulting in great pain. The next afternoon, an examination at the University of Tokyo Hospital revealed a broken femur (upper leg bone). The Imperial Household agency reported the Empress Emerita underwent a successful surgery on Tuesday morning  she is expected to stay in the hospital about two weeks. The exact date of her  hospital discharge will depend on her rehabilitation. 

According to his aides, her husband, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, appeared relieved upon hearing the operation was successful. The former Empress will turn 90 on October 20th. I wish her a speedy recovery and a very happy birthday!

Numazu Imperial Villa

Recently, I took the train to Numazu Station and visited the Imperial Villa, which is the former summer home of the Imperial Family. The Imperial family stopped using the summer home in November 1969, and the City of Numazu developed the property into a memorial park, which opened in July 1970. 

The entry fee for both the house and the grounds is 410 yen. It is walking distance from Numazu Station or you can park a car for free.

This is the maid's meeting room.

Guard's room

Both rooms

The Prince's tricycle

Kitchen

Back Entrance.

This room was called Jojikankisho in the Taisho era. It was for the Chamberlain or Men-in-waiting.

Looking out the window

This room was called Togu Daibushistu, for the men waiting on the Crown Prince.  Later it was used for praying.  Every day the Emperor prayed to his ancestors.

During the Taisho Era, this was used as an office.  Later it was called Shuzenshitsu, a room for providing food or tableware.

Originally, this was used as the anteroom to the offical guest room.  Later it was used for dining.

This room was the Official Guest Room. The special Japanese paper called Maniaishi is applied at the top of the walls. The paper is hand made from a rare type of vegetable fiber called Ganpi mixed with powdered stone paste. It is strongly resistent to fire, fading, and vermin.

Together, the next three rooms are called Gozasho and are for living, sleeping, and dressing.

The Billiard room was added in 1925.

This is the Emperor's Bath, but has no bathtub.  A lady in waiting poured water over the emperor, who was wearing very thin clothing.

This is the original telephone from the Meiji Era.

Outside this house, there is still much to see.

The hot water room

There was a group of kindergarten children, all in matching shorts and hats outside.

Air Raid Shelter

Looking out over the water.

It's a beautiful place and I can kind of imagine being here for the summer.