Crown Princess Kiko and her husband, Crown Prince Fumihito, play with origami doves gifted by individuals at an atomic bomb survivors’ care facility in Hiroshima that Kiko and their daughter Kako visited in August. (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)

Photo/Illutration Crown Princess Kiko, right, and Crown Prince Fumihito on Aug. 22 in their home in Tokyo’s Moto-Akasaka district (Provided by the Imperial Household Agency)

Crown Princess Kiko marked her 59th birthday on Sept. 11, looking back on a year where she saw her son start university and come of age as her eldest daughter welcomed a child of her own. 

Kiko expressed relief in her written answers to the Imperial Household Agency press club reporters that Prince Hisahito, who is her only son, had his coming-of-age ceremony on Sept. 6.

In reflecting, Kiko said she was deeply moved that her husband, Crown Prince Fumihito, Emperor Naruhito's younger brother, worked to pass on the imperial ceremony's practices and lengthy history from father to son, and that Hisahito could participate in a rite of that nature. 

According to Kiko, few staff members possessed knowledge of how coming-of-age rituals were conducted in the past so the family and staff members delved into the archives and consulted experts to prepare for Hisahito's ceremony. 

The 19-year-old worked with experts and his father, who underwent the same ceremony 40 years ago. Kiko said she saw Hisahito learn the importance of the ceremony and grow aware of his responsibilities throughout the process.

She also spoke on his new life as a first-year student at the University of Tsukuba's College of Biological Sciences in Ibaraki Prefecture; after starting in April, Hisahito now divides his time between Tokyo and Tsukuba.

“It seems he is experiencing many firsts,” Kiko said, mentioning registering for university classes online, submitting online assignments and biking around the large campus.

Hisahito now cooks for himself and sometimes brings vegetables grown at the Akasaka Estate to Tsukuba.

“I feel his growth as I see him finding ways to manage life both in Tokyo and Tsukuba,” she said.

As for studying abroad, she commented that it may be a possible option as he considers his academic future.

Hisahito also now has a driver’s license. On occasion, he enjoys driving around the estate with his father in the yellow Volkswagen Beetle that Fumihito has cherished since his own university days. 

When asked about her eldest daughter, Mako Komuro, having her first child, Kiko hopes a trip to Japan is in the cards for Mako who lives in the United States.

“Our entire family is delighted,” she said. "I hope she will be able to visit Japan when everything aligns."

She added, “I find myself imagining walking together slowly through the garden under the arch of Lady Banks' roses, and perhaps enjoying a picnic together someday.” 

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