Politics

Princess Aiko, the only child of Japan’s emperor, turns 21

Tokyo, Dec 1 (EFE).- Princess Aiko, the only child of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako, turned 21 on Thursday.

The princess has been taking on more official duties as an adult member of the imperial family although they have still been limited due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On her birthday, Aiko plans to attend online classes at her university as usual and later visit her grandparents, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, the Imperial Household Agency said.

Since coming of age a year ago, Aiko has taken part in rituals at the Imperial Palace and held her first-ever press conference in March.

In April, she began her third year at Gakushuin University’s Department of Japanese Language and Literature, where she’s studying Japanese literature.

On the occasion of her birthday, the princess wished an end to the coronavirus pandemic so that everyone could safely return to their normal lives, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

This agency also released a video of Aiko visiting the Imperial Palace’s stable and feeding the horses, one of her hobbies along with playing tennis with her parents, walking around the grounds and growing vegetables, the Agency added.

Despite being a direct descendant of the emperor, Aiko cannot inherit her father’s title due to the 1947 Imperial House Law that governs the line of imperial succession and only allows male descendants of the emperor to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Aiko’s cousin, Prince Hisahito, is the first in line for the throne.

At 16 years, he is the only member of the imperial family who is a minor. EFE

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