'Emperor's Only Daughter' Princess Aiko's First Day at School
"Hope She Gains Good Learning on Campus"
Praised for Borrowing Aunt's Crown at Coming-of-Age Ceremony
Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito, attracted attention on the 12th as she attended university for the first time this year.
According to local media including Kyodo News on that day, Princess Aiko, who entered Gakushuin University in 2020, had been attending online classes due to the impact of COVID-19, but went to campus for the first time as a senior.
Meeting the press on her way to school, Princess Aiko said, "I’m glad to be able to commute (instead of online classes)" and added, "I hope to gain good learning experiences on campus during my last year at university." It is reported that she plans to prepare her graduation thesis while going back and forth to school. Princess Aiko is studying Japanese language and literature in the Faculty of Letters at this university, learning Japanese history along with classical literature.
Princess Aiko’s fashion also caught attention that day. Wearing a mask, she appeared in a floral blouse and comfortable-looking beige pants. She also wore accessories such as pearl earrings and a necklace.
Japanese netizens showed positive reactions toward Princess Aiko, saying things like, "I hope she has a meaningful university life during her last year," "Seeing the princess’s smiling face makes me feel better too. I want to support her," and "I hope she meets good teachers and friends and has more interactions."
Princess Aiko of Japan, daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is walking to attend a lecture at Gakushuin University in Tokyo on the 12th. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
Earlier, Princess Aiko received praise within Japan for borrowing the crown of her aunt, former Princess Sayako Kuroda, at the coming-of-age ceremony held in December 2021.
It is customary for Japanese royal women reaching adulthood to have a crown made, but Princess Aiko declined to have one made at that time, saying, "Since the Japanese people are facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19, we cannot make a crown using tax money." Princess Aiko is the first Japanese female royal to declare that she would not have a crown made.
The crown is generally made with the royal budget called 'Ky?j?-hi,' and the cost usually reaches about 300 million won (approximately 27 million yen). Princess Aiko’s cousins, who had their coming-of-age ceremonies earlier, Mako purchased a tiara worth 28.56 million yen (about 283 million won) in 2011, and Kako acquired one worth 27.93 million yen (about 277 million won) in 2014.
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