Princess Takamado, who arrived here on May 29 with her eldest daughter Princess Tsuguko, told Arab News Japan recently she was excited about attending Jordan’s first royal wedding in over a decade.

“It is a joyous occasion, I wish the young couple more future happiness. The future of Jordan rests on their shoulders,” she said. Princess Takamado added that “it’s the time for them to enjoy a little bit of a romantic life and I wish them much, much happiness.”

The member of the Japanese Imperial Family is representing Emperor Naruhito and his wife, who have sent their good wishes to the couple.

Princess Takamado has been a part of the Imperial Family since 1984 and has been participating in various philanthropic activities that promote cultural ties between Japan and other nations.

Her most recent work was in Jordan when she visited UNRWA’s new refugee camp in Amman.

“I was tremendously impressed by the dedication of the staff,” Princess Takamado said. “I was touched by the children. They are our hope for the future.”

She also visited UNICEF’s Makani community center that plays a key role in identifying children who are facing challenges to attend school.

The princess explained to Arab News Japan that her involvement in philanthropic activities is primarily to provide moral support.

“It’s about giving encouragement and recognizing that there are many people that are doing incredibly good things,” she said. “And to sort of make them realize that we recognize that what they are doing is important. Because (in) many cases, people want that kind of encouragement.”

Her involvement is focused on conservation, education and international cultural exchange.

This visit is not Princess Takamado’s first trip to Jordan, which was in 1996, during the Jordan-Japan cultural week.

“At that time, Jordan’s Crown Prince Hassan and my late husband, Norihito, Prince Takamado, were involved with that cultural week,” she added. She visited again in 2005, for Jordan’s Princess Badiya bint Hassan’s wedding.

She said Jordan was “very open, very free, and in many ways exactly like being in Tokyo.”

“It’s my third time in Jordan and there is a feeling of nostalgia. I’m just happy to be back again,” the princess said. “I’m seeing things that I’ve seen before, I’m smelling smells that I’ve smelt before, and I’m seeing people that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

She said visiting Petra was an “extremely moving experience.” Considering that Saudi Arabia’s AlUla comes from a similar civilization that built Petra’s structures, Princess Takamado said she hoped to also visit the Kingdom.

“I am involved with any event that happens in Japan that any of the embassies have, which promotes cultural ties,” she said. “And of course, when they are promoting cultural ties, in the background, there are economic ties.”

Princess Takamado said promoting peace among nations was “extremely important.”

“As part of my work, I will do everything to support the Japanese government and the Japanese people in wishing for a peaceful world,” she added. “However, the actual work involved in promoting peace is very often politically dictated and therefore, I can never be hands-on in trying to promote peace in any way, but a peaceful world is fundamental.”

She hopes Japan’s hosting of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima will promote a more peaceful world.

Jordan and Japan will celebrate their 70th year of diplomatic ties next year. To mark the occasion, Princess Takamado set up a Japan-Jordan Friendship Association on May 31 to focus on cultural exchange.