Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako beam in family portraits

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito appeared in high spirits as he posed for a New Year’s portrait at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo with his wife and daughter.

He donned a sophisticated black suit, paired with a cream tie, as he sat next to Empress Masako, who looked effortlessly elegant in a white blazer and skirt, and her daughter, Princess Aiko, in a smiling family photo. .

The trio were surrounded by beautiful traditional interiors as they marked the world saying goodbye to 2022 and greeting the first day of 2023 today.

Smiling alongside her 62-year-old husband, the empress, 59, pinned her brown locks up in an elegant style, looking gorgeous with a minimal layer of makeup and matching pearl jewelry.

Elsewhere, young Princess Aiko, 21, stunned in a pastel peach dress and jacket as she wore her black locks in a half-up half-down style, emulating her mother with understated yet gorgeous accessory choices.

Emperor Naruhito’s father, 89-year-old Emperor Emeritus Akihito, also appeared in the festive images, looking refined as always in a dark navy double-breasted suit.

He was photographed with his wife, Empress Emeritus Michiko, 88, who wore a glamorous ensemble in muted tones, featuring a square-neck top and flowing skirt.

Other family members in the jovial portraits also included the Crown Prince of Japan and the Emperor’s younger brother, 57-year-old Prince Akishino.

He smiled frankly as he talked to his family and flipped through a book on the pictures, dressed in a simple black suit.

His wife, Princess Kiko, 56, was the very picture of elegance in a cream blazer cardigan, embellished with pearl jewels and an ornate brooch, which she wore over a matching dress.

The couple’s children, Princess Kako, 28, and Prince Hisahito, 16, seemed to laugh along with their parents in the sweet family photos.

Kako, whose birthday was just a few days before the New Year’s Eve celebrations, looked amazing in a dark pink dress, which she styled with minimal accessories and a simple hairstyle while her teenage brother opted for a classic black suit.

Emperor Naruhito’s niece marked her 28th birthday with new official portraits, after taking up official duties left by her older sister Princess Mako, who moved to New York with her commoner husband.

Kako raised a storm at Akasaka’s imperial-owned residence in Tokyo on December 2, before celebrating her birthday a few days ago.

In the photographs, the princess, dressed in a white jumper and jacket with a cream pleated skirt, was walking through a picturesque forest.

The youngest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko spent the past year actively filling in for her older sister, Mako Komuro, who moved to New York in 2021, according to the Japan times.

Princess Kako took over as Honorary President of the Japan Tennis Association and President of the Japan Kogei Association upon her sister’s departure.

She also visited urban green infrastructure events this year, which her sister used to attend.

The former Princess Mako has been reported to be working as an unpaid volunteer at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art after giving up her degrees – and a $1.3 million payment – to marry her ‘commoner’ college sweetheart.

In November, it was revealed that Mako’s husband, Kei Komuro, passed the New York bar exam after two failed attempts.

Meanwhile, Mako is working on the iconic museum’s Asian art collection, helping to put together an exhibition of paintings inspired by the life of a 13th-century monk who introduced Buddhism to Japan, according to the Japan times.

The Upper East Side museum is a 10-minute drive from the luxury one-bedroom Hell’s Kitchen apartment she shares with her husband and aspiring lawyer Kei Komuro, 30.

The couple was engaged for eight years before tying the knot last October in a small civil ceremony in Tokyo.

Because only male members of the Japanese imperial family can marry non-royals, Mako’s decision to marry for love means she is no longer considered a princess and future children will not be on the line. of succession to the emperor.

Mako and Kei met in 2013 when they were both studying at the International Christian University outside Tokyo, where she was studying art and cultural heritage. She then went on to work as a special researcher at the Tokyo University Museum.

Earlier this year, Crown Prince Akishino officially became the heir to the throne following Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne in 2019.

Nahurito, who ascended the throne himself after the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito, has no male heir and under Japanese succession rules, only one man can ascend to the throne.

In April, Crown Prince Akishino traveled to the sacred shrine of Ise, Mie, where he completed the ritual known as Rikkoshi no Rei, which all heirs to the Chrysanthemum Throne must perform.

The ritual first began in 2020, when Nahurito had to send emissaries across Japan to places that have a strong link to the imperial family, to inform that Fuhimito will be his heir.

The sites included Ise Jingu, a Shinto shrine complex in Mie Prefecture, the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu, Japan’s mythical first emperor, in Nara Prefecture, and the mausoleum of Emperor Showa, Emperor Naruhito’s grandfather.

After the envoys reported the news, ceremonies were held at each site.

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