Aiko, Princess Toshi
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Princess Aiko, The Princess Toshi (敬宮愛子内親王殿下 Toshi no miya Aiko naishinnō denka), born December 1, 2001, is the only child of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito, heir apparent to the Japanese throne, and Crown Princess Masako.
She was named Aiko in a naming ceremony, which is traditionally held on the seventh day after a baby's birth. Aiko, written with kanji character for "love" and "child", refers to "a person who loves others." She is also given a royal title, Princess Toshi (敬宮 toshi no miya) while she is young, which means "a person who respects others." This formal title will be dropped if she marries with a commoner.
In a break with tradition, the name was chosen by her parents, instead of by the emperor. It was selected from the teaching of the Chinese philosopher Mencius. It reads "A person who loves others will be loved by others, and a person who respects others will always be respected by others."
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In 2005 Princess Toshi has been training in finger painting at National Children's Castle in Tokyo. Pottery, rhythmic gymnastics , gardening inside Togu Palace, with Princess Masako.
Princess Toshi (or Princess Aiko, as she is more widely known) began her formal education at the Gakushuin Kindergarten, Tokyo in April 2006.
Female succession
As no male has been born into the imperial family since 1965, the Japanese public eagerly awaited the birth. All of Japan was overjoyed at the birth of a girl to the imperial couple after eight years of marriage. However, Princess Toshi's birth rekindled a debate over whether to change the law to allow a female to ascend to the throne of the world's oldest hereditary monarchy. (See also Japanese Imperial succession controversy.)
The Imperial Household of Japan Law of 1947 limits succession to males: since neither of the late Emperor Hirohito's sons have a direct male descendant, some public and parliament members perceive Chrysanthemum Throne continuity to be in jeopardy despite a line of succession seven levels deep. This possible threat to the monarchy and a new regard for women's rights led some to call for revision of imperial law to allow succession through females. Crown Princess Masako has experienced a physical and mental breakdown under the intense pressure to produce a male heir. The public support for Aiko becoming Empress is overwhelming at over eighty percent. However, elders of the Shinto religion (despite the ancient traditions of imperial succession, which allowed for female succession) and far-right groups have expressed disapproval of Aiko reigning. A decision regarding Princess Toshi's succession must be made soon, as the Princess has turned four, a year later than the age at which, according to Japanese tradition, an heir to the throne must begin their special education.
A panel that was dealing with the succession issue recommended on October 25, 2005 that females be allowed to ascend to the Japanese throne, that the first-born child of a monarch should be the heir (not the first-born son) and that the children of a ruling empress should also be the monarch.
In November 2005 it was reported [link] that Akihito's cousin, Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, believes that Naruhito should take a concubine in order to produce a male heir.
In January 2006, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced in a key-note speech that he would introduce a bill to the Japanese Parliament that allowed women to inherit the throne, indicating that it would be along the line of the constitutional committee's recommendations in 2005.[link]
In February 2006, it was announced that Prince Fumihito (younger brother of Crown Prince Naruhito and second in the line of succession) and his wife Princess Kiko were expecting a child. If the child is male, he would then be third in the line of succession under current rules, possibly meaning that Japan will not have to make a choice about female succession - though many commentators maintain such a "solution" would only be temporary. After Prime Minister Koizumi announced that he intended to go ahead with the planned changes to imperial succession anyway, he then backed down and agreed to shelve the reform plans temporarily.
External links
| Styles of Princess Toshi (Aiko) of Japan | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | Her Imperial Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial Highness |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
- [Kunaicho | Press Conference by Their Imperial Highness The Crown Prince and Crown Princess After the Birth of Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko]
- [Onurish | Princess Aiko starting kindergarten, and some controversies...]
- [Kunaicho | Press on the Occasion of the First Birthday of Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko]
- [Japan's new royal baby]
- [BBC News | Japan´s new princess meets the public]
- [The Japan Times | Princess Aiko presented to ancient emperors]
- [CBS News | Japan's Crown Princess Crumbles]
- [Reuters | Princess Aiko gets a dose of life outside the palace at the Tokyo Disney Resort]
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