TOKYO: Japanese Princess Aiko on Tuesday expressed her willingness to do for others as a Japanese Red Cross Society worker.

“Other than public duties, I wanted to do a job that can help people with various difficulties,” the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako said in a statement after she joined the society as a part-time employee the previous day.

In the statement, released by the Imperial Household Agency, the princess noted that she became interested in welfare activities in general by listening to the stories of her friends from junior and senior high school days who were involved in volunteer work to support reconstruction of areas devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The role of the Imperial Family is “to have sympathy with people walking a difficult path,” she said. “I will be delighted to take on new challenges and have various experiences.”

Mentioning that she consulted with the Emperor and Empress about her future career, she said, “With a sense of responsibility as a member of society, I want to do my best to help other people as soon as possible.”

As for her official duty, the princess recalled that she attended for the first time an Imperial luncheon for foreign guests in February and had conversations with them.

“I really felt that it is very meaningful to have time for deepening understanding of other countries’ natural and cultural features and, at the same time, publicizing Japan’s attractiveness,” she said.

Touching on her visit to Mie and Nara Prefectures last week, the first solo domestic trip for the princess, she said, “I was impressed with a warm welcome from many people.”

“From now on, I would like to work sincerely on each duty,” she went on to say.

The princess noted that her attitude toward marriage has not changed since March 2022, when she told a news conference after becoming an adult Imperial Family member that the life event would be still far off.

“I think that a relationship in which (couples) can think of each other like my parents do is wonderful,” she said.

JIJI Press