Princess Aiko’s Surprising Career Move: Opting for Employment at Japanese Red Cross over Graduate Studies or Overseas Study

Aiko’s choice of employment came as a great surprise to me, but I feel that her future career path is finally becoming more realistic,” said a veteran journalist of the Imperial Household.

A veteran journalist of the Imperial Household said as much.

It was announced that His Imperial Highness Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor, will graduate from Gakushuin University and begin working for the Japanese Red Cross Society in April of this year.

Reporters belonging to the Imperial Household Agency Club were “surprised” to hear this news. Since Princess Aiko was likely to go on to graduate school or study abroad, some of the reporters asked why she was going to get a job. (A reporter for a national newspaper in charge of the Imperial Household).

A journalist in charge of the Imperial Household at a major national newspaper analyzed the situation, saying that there were two reasons for the decision.

One is the decrease in the number of members of the Imperial Family who can perform official duties. As you know, in recent years, Mako Komuro and Ayako Moriya of the Takamado family married and left the Imperial Family. It is highly likely that Princess Kako and Princess Seiko will marry in the future.

Furthermore, Princess Eugene is still a high school student. I understand that it was difficult for him to make the choice to prioritize his studies at a site where the number of members of the Imperial Family supporting his official duties is small.

The second reason has to do with the unique characteristics of the JRC.

The JRC has a close relationship with the Imperial Family, and since Empress Kajun took office, it has been customary for the Empress to serve as Honorary President of the JRC. In other words, Masako is currently the president.

If Aiko is enrolled in the JRC, she can provide support for important events such as the Japanese Red Cross Convention held around May each year. It is said that Princess Aiko is always mentally supporting Princess Masako, so I think she is the best choice for employment.

It is said that after this spring, she will be working two to three days a week for a while, both on official business and as a contracted employee of the Japan Red Cross Society. So, what exactly does this mean by “his future plans”?