Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako(photo)

(Photo:Imperial Household Agency) (Photo:Miyazaki Prefecture) (Photo:Imperial Household Agency) (Photo:Imperial Household Agency)

His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito attends, together with Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako, events and ceremonies within the Imperial Palace, including ceremonies for the New Year and other events such as Their Majesties갽 Garden Parties. on the occasion of visits by State guests from overseas, Their Imperial Highnesses attend welcome receptions, Court luncheons and State banquets at the Imperial Palace. In addition, on certain days of the year determined by tradition, Their Imperial Highnesses join Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress in paying their respects to the Imperial ancestors at the Palace Sanctuary. Their Imperial Highnesses attend a variety of exhibitions, international and national tournaments and other events held in Japan. Important events Their Imperial Highnesses have attended include the National Awards Ceremony for the Promotion of Blood Donation, the National Convention of Agricultural Youths, the National Sports Games for the Disabled, the National Cultural Festival and the National Tree-Care Festival, during the course of which Their Imperial Highnesses have also been able to review for themselves the regions of Japan. The work of Their Imperial Highnesses includes such official duties at the Crown Prince갽s Residence as meeting with dignitaries from Japan and overseas, receiving Japanese ambassadors and their spouses before their postings abroad and receiving foreign ambassadors and their spouses before their departure from Japan. Their Imperial Highnesses also meet with foreign study groups visiting Japan and representatives of domestic youth groups.

걁Photo:SHUFU-TO-SEIKATSUSHA걂 걁Photo:SHUFU-TO-SEIKATSUSHA걂

Their Imperial Highnesses have made several official visits abroad, including visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Bahrain in November 1994, the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in January 1995 and another visit to Jordan in February 1999. In December 1999, Their Imperial Highnesses visited the Kingdom of Belgium on the occasion of the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philippe. In December 2002, Their Imperial Highnesses paid a visit to New Zealand and the Commonwealth of Australia. In May 2001, His Imperial Highness paid a visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He visited the United Mexican States in March 2006 to attend the 4th World Water Forum, and in July 2007 he paid a visit to Mongolia. In addition, in January 2002, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of the Netherlands to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander, the heir to the Royal Dutch throne. In May 2004, His Imperial Highness visited the Kingdom of Denmark to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik, and visited the Kingdom of Spain to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, Don Felipe de Borbon y Grecia. His Imperial Highness also visited the Portuguese Republic while in Europe at that time. In September of the same year His Imperial Highness traveled to Negara Brunei Darussalam to attend the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah. In August 2005 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pay condolences on the demise of King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. In September 2006 His Imperial Highness traveled to the Kingdom of Tonga to attend the state funeral of His Majesty King Taufa갽ahau Tupou IV. His Imperial Highness also takes on duties pertaining to matters of state, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, on occasions when Their Majesties are overseas. In addition to serving as Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society, in January 2007, His Imperial Highness was appointed Honorary President of the 갾International Skills Festival for All, Japan 2007,갿 which was held in November 2007. In November 2007 His Imperial Highness was appointed as Honorary President of the United Nations Secretary-General갽s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, and in January 2008 he was appointed Honorary President of the Japan-Brazil Year of Exchange 2008. Her Imperial Highness has been an Honorary Vice-President of the Japanese Red Cross Society since April 1994.

(Photo:Imperial Household Agency)

Since April 1992, His Imperial Highness has received a commission as a guest researcher at the Gakushuin University Archives and has continued his research on Japanese medieval history. In November 2003 he gave a lecture at the Gakushuin Women갽s College entitled, 갾British Society and Culture: The Source of North American Culture,갿 and since then has given lectures in 2005, 2006 and 2008. With regard to water issues, in March 2003, in his capacity as Honorary President of the 3rd World Water Forum, His Imperial Highness delivered a memorial speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum entitled, 갾Waterways Connecting Kyoto and Local Regions.갿 on the occasion of his visit to Mexico in March 2006, His Imperial Highness delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 4th World Water Forum entitled, 갾Edo and Water Transport.갿 In addition, in December 2007, His Imperial Highness delivered the commemorative lecture at the opening ceremony of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit, entitled 갾Humans and Water: From Japan to the Asia-Pacific Region.갿 In addition, the fruits of His Imperial Highness갽 studies while in the United Kingdom culminated in an English-language paper, 갾The Thames as Highway,갿 which was published in April 1989. In September 1991 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Oxford. His Imperial Highness is an enthusiastic sportsman and music lover, being an avid tennis player and also enjoying mountaineering and jogging. He is an accomplished violist. Her Imperial Highness is also a sports and music lover, in particular tennis and skiing. Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko has graduated from the Gakushuin Kindergarten, and from April 2008 will enter her first year at the Gakushuin Primary School. Her Imperial Highness continues to grow in good health.

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