TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 02: Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, Empress Emerita Michiko, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko of Akishino, Princess Kako of Akishino, Princess Hisako of Takamado and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado wave during the New Year's appearance by the Japanese royal family at the Imperial Palace on January 2, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. The event was held for the first time in three years, following a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS 

TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 02: Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko of Akishino, Princess Kako of Akishino, Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa and Princess Akiko of Mikasa wave during the New Year's appearance by the Japanese royal family at the Imperial Palace on January 2, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. The event was held for the first time in three years, following a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS 

TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 02: (L-R) Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, Princess Hisako of Takamado, Princess Hanako of Hitachi, Prince Hitachi, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, Empress Emerita Michiko, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko of Akishino, Princess Kako of Akishino, Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, Princess Nobuko of Mikasa and Princess Akiko of Mikasa during the New Year's appearance by the Japanese royal family at the Imperial Palace on January 2, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. The event was held for the first time in three years, following a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS 

People pray at the altar after the funeral of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

A car carrying the casket of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, arrive at the funeral of late Prince Mikasa at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Crown Princess Masako attends the funeral of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako (R) attend the funeral of the late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Princess Mako and Princess Kako (L) attend the funeral of the late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Princess Yuriko, wife of the late Prince Mikasa, attends the funeral service for Prince Mikasa at Toshimagaoka graveyard in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, center Crown Princess Masako, left, and Princess Yuriko, wife of the late Prince Mikasa, right, attends the funeral service for Prince Mikasa at Toshimagaoka graveyard in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Funeral car arrives for the funeral service for Prince Mikasa at Toshimagaoka graveyard in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Shinto priests arrive for a funeral for the late Prince Mikasa, the younger brother of former Japanese Emperor Hirohito, at Toshimagaoka imperial cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, third from left, Crown Princess Masako, second from left, Prince Akishino, left, and other royal family bow during the funeral service for Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, second from left, Crown Princess Masako, left, and other royal family attend the funeral service for Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, center and Crown Princess Masako bow during the funeral service for Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito (L) and Crown Princess Masako attend the funeral service for Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako (L) walk after praying at the altar during the funeral of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako (R) walk after praying at the altar during the funeral of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Princess Yuriko, on a wheelchair, the wife of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, is seen after praying at the altar during the funeral of late Prince Mikasa at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows before praying at the altar during the funeral of late Prince Mikasa, uncle of the current Emperor Akihito, at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai 

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrive at the late Prince Mikasa's residence in Tokyo, Japan November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool 

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko leave before vigil of the late Prince Mikasa at the prince's residence in Tokyo, Japan November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko leave before vigil of the late Prince Mikasa at the prince's residence in Tokyo, Japan November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool 

A Japanese national flag flies at half-mast to mourn Japanese Prince Mikasa on the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) patrol vessel Izu as a JCG helicopter conducts a rescue drill during an inspection by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (not in picture) at the JCG base in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan October 27, 2016. REUTERS/Issei Kato 

Prince Mikasa (2nd R) and his wife Princess Yuriko (2nd L), parents of the late Prince Tomohito, attend the funeral of Tomohito, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, in wheelchairs at Toshimagaoka imperial cemetery in Tokyo June 14, 2012. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool/File photo 

A Japanese national flag flies at half-mast to mourn Japanese Prince Mikasa at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, October 27, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon 

Prince Mikasa (2nd R) and his wife Princess Yuriko (2nd L), parents of the late Prince Tomohito, attend the funeral of Tomohito, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, in wheelchairs at Toshimagaoka imperial cemetery in Tokyo June 14, 2012. Tomohito, who was sixth in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, died of cancer at 66 on June 6. REUTERS/Koji Sasahara/Pool (JAPAN - Tags: OBITUARY ROYALS ENTERTAINMENT) 

Japan's Emperor Akihito (centre L) and Empress Michiko (centre R) wave to wellwishers with Crown Prince Naruhito (7th L) and Crown Princess Masako (6th L) and other royal family members during a public appearance for a New Year celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo January 2, 2009. Royal family members are Princess Takamado (3rd L), her daughters Princess Noriko (L), Princess Tsuguko (L), Prince and Princess Hitachi (5th L and 4th L), Masako, Naruhito, Akihito, Michiko, Prince Akishino (4th R), his wife Princess Kiko (3rd R), Prince and Princess Mikasa (2nd R and R). REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN) 

Japan's Emperor Akihito (8th L) and Empress Michiko (9th L) wave to well-wishers with Crown Prince Naruhito (7th L) and Crown Princess Masako (6th L) and other royal family members during a public appearance for a New Year celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo January 2, 2009. Royal family members are Princess Takamado (3rd L), her daughters Princess Noriko (L), Princess Tsuguko (L), Prince and Princess Hitachi (5th L and 4th L), Masako, Naruhito, Akihito, Michiko, Prince Akishino (4th R), his wife Princess Kiko (3rd R), Prince and Princess Mikasa (2nd R and R). REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN) 

NORWEGIAN KING AND QUEEN SIT WITH JAPANESE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS PRIOR TO A CONCERT AT AKASAKA GUESTHOUSE IN TOKYO.


Norwegian King Harald (4th L) and Queen Sonja (L) sit with Japanese Emperor Akihito (3rd L) and Empress Michiko (2nd L) before the start of a concert at Akasaka Guesthouse in Tokyo March 27, 2001. Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito (5th R), Crown Princess Masako (4th R), Princess Nori (3rd R) and Prince and Princess Mikasa are seen. 

Japan's Emperor Akihito (C) with the royal family, waves to well-wishers from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during annual New Year celebrations with the public January 2, 2001. The Japanese royal family appears in public at the palace twice a year. L-R; Princess Mikasa, Prince Mikasa, Princess Nori, Crown Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prince and Princess Akishino, Prince and Princess Hitachi, and Prince and Princess Takamado. 

Japan's Emperor Akihito (C) with the royal family, waves to well-wishers from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during annual New Year celebrations with the public January 2, 2001. The Japanese royal family appears in public at the palace twice a year. L-R; Princess Mikasa, Prince Mikasa, Princess Nori, Crown Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prince and Princess Akishino, Prince and Princess Hitachi, and Prince and Princess Takamado.

KM/CP 

Even as Japan celebrates the 10th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement on November 12, it is wrestling with the question of whether a strict-males only succession law should be changed to permit an Empress. Emperor Akihito (L/ foreground) and Empress Michiko lead royal family members to greet their guests during an Autumn Imperial Garden Party in this October 14 file photo. From left, are Prince and Princess Akishino, Princess Mikasa, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako.

EL 

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko lead royal family members to greet guests at a garden party in the grounds of Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, October 14. Family members accompanying are from left at the back; Prince and Princess Akishino, Princess Mikasa, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. About 1,800 guests were invited to the party.

ST/RT/HB 

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko followed by the rest of the royal family join guests at the annual autumn imperial garden party at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo October 29. The Imperial family holds garden parties in spring and autumn every year, inviting people who have distinguished themselves in their service to the nation. From foreground; Emperor (2nd L), Empress (2nd R), Crown Prince Naruhito (C), Crown Princess Masako (R), Princess Nori (4th R), Princess Mikasa (L) and Prince Mikasa (4th L). A person next to Prince Mikasa is unidentified.

KM/JDP 

Prince Tomohito Mikasa (L) of Japan and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel attend the opening ceremony of a cultural centre in Ankara May 3. Prince Tomohito is on a two-day private visit to Turkey.

FS 

Prince Tomohito Mikasa (L) of Japan and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel attend the opening ceremony of a cultural centre in Ankara May 3. Prince Tomohito is on a two-day private visit to Turkey.

FS 

TURKEY-JAPAN:ANKARA, 3MAY98-Prince Tomohito Mikasa (R) of Japan is escorted by Turkish honour guards to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of Turkish republic and first president May 3. The prince is on a private visit to Turkey.

FS/KC 

Prince Tomohito Mikasa (L) of Japan gestures to Turkish Culture Minister Istemihan Talay upon his arrival at Ankara's Esenboga airport May 2. Prince Mikasa is expected to attend the opening of the Turco-Japan cultural centre in Ankara May 3.

FS/AA 

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie (L) smile as they walk in the snow to open Festival UK'98 at the British Embassy in Tokyo January 12. The festival is designed to introduce British culture to the Japanese people. The woman following them at right is Princess Nobuko, wife of Emperor Akihito's cousin, Prince Mikasa.

JAPAN