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Princess Kako of Akishino

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Kako
Princess Kako in June 2025
Born (1994-12-29) 29 December 1994 (age 31)
Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan
HouseImperial House of Japan
FatherFumihito, Crown Prince of Japan
MotherKiko Kawashima

Princess Kako of Akishino (佳子内親王, Kako Naishinnō; born 29 December 1994) is the second daughter of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan and a member of the Japanese imperial family. She is a niece of Emperor Naruhito and the second-eldest grandchild of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.

Early life and education

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Sea hibiscus, Hibiscus tiliaceus, designated imperial personal emblem of Kako

Princess Kako was born on 29 December 1994 at Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Imperial Palace, Chiyoda, Tokyo. She has an older sister, Mako Komuro, and a younger brother, Prince Hisahito.[1]

In April 1999, she began Gakushuin Kindergarten and graduated in March 2001. Afterwards, Princess Kako entered Gakushuin Primary School in April 2001 and graduated in March 2007. She entered Gakushuin Girls' Junior High School in April 2007 and graduated in March 2010.[2] In April 2010, she enrolled into Gakushuin Girls’ Senior High School, graduating in March 2013.[3][additional citation(s) needed]

Figure skating

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She participated in figure skating while in primary school.[4] In 2007, she represented the Meiji-jingu Gaien Figure Skating Club and joined the Spring Cup Figure Skating Competition held by the Japan Skating Federation. Princess Kako ranked top in the Shinjuku division (Female Group B - Primary School Year Six or above).[5]

Higher education

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In April 2013, she attended the entrance ceremony of Gakushuin University and began her life as an undergraduate student.[6][permanent dead link] In August 2014, she quit the Department of Education, the Faculty of Letters, Gakushuin University and passed the entrance examination to the International Christian University (ICU), her older sister's alma mater.[7] On 2 April 2015, the Princess attended the entrance ceremony of the university in Tokyo.[8]

In 2017, as part of the ICU's study abroad programme, Princess Kako travelled to the United Kingdom to study at the University of Leeds. She studied performance design and stage management as part of the programme.[9] She completed her studies in June 2018.[10]

In 2019 she graduated from the Division of Arts and Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, in the International Christian University.[1]

Official duties

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From 7 to 21 August 2003, Kako went to Thailand with her parents and sister for the 71st birthday celebration of Queen Sirikit and for conferment of an honorary fellowship from Ubon Ratchathani University, and for joint research on poultry.[11]

Mon of the Akishino branch of the imperial family

In September 2019, she embarked on her first official solo overseas visit and went to Austria and Hungary, where she met with the heads of state of those countries.[12]

In May 2021, she began working part-time for the Japanese Federation of the Deaf.[13] Kako is an honorary patron of the Japan Tennis Association and a patron of the Japan Kōgei Association.[1]

Health

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In November 2025, Kako tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cancel her visit to the Deaflympics Square, the main venue for the 2025 Deaflympics, in Tokyo.[14]

Official visits

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Honours

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See also: List of honours of the Japanese Imperial Family by country

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their family - The Imperial Household Agency". The Imperial Household Agency. Archived from the original on 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  2. ^ "「充実した3年間を...」佳子さま学習院女子高を卒業". テレビ朝日 | テレ朝news. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  3. ^ "「充実した3年間を…」佳子さま学習院女子高を卒業". テレビ朝日 | テレ朝news. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  4. ^ "Transcript of Press Interview by Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino held shortly before the Birthday of HIH Prince Akishino". 24 November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  5. ^ 2007 Figure Skating Spring Cup Competition Result - Shinjuku division (female Group B: Primary School Year Six or above) Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Login - Kyodo News".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ 佳子さま 国際基督教大学を受験へ (in Japanese). NHK. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  8. ^ "佳子さま、ICUの入学式に出席" [Princess Kako attends ICU entrance ceremony]. 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Princess Kako completes year in the UK as an exchange student". University of Leeds. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Japan's Princess Kako completes her studies in U.K." The Japan Times Online. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  11. ^ "List of Overseas Visits by the Emperor, Empress and Imperial Family (1999 – 2008)". Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Princess Kako leaves for Austria, Hungary". Kyodo News. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  13. ^ Sugiura, Tatsuro (13 October 2021). "Princess Mako visits emperor's grave to inform of marriage plan". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2021. Kiko and Princess Kako, Mako's sister, joined her in watching "Emu," a movie marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. Kako works for the foundation and the three are well versed in sign language, and have given speeches in it at sign language speech contests.
  14. ^ "Princess Kako Tests Positive for COVID-19, Cancels Visit to Deaflympics Square". The Yomiuri Shimbun. 18 November 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Japan's Princess Kako to Visit Peru in November". Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  16. ^ Kokkinidis, Tasos (28 May 2024). "Princess Kako of Japan Visits Greece on Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations". Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. ^ Savarese, Mauricio (6 June 2025). "Japan's Princess Kako receives medal in Brazil as she starts 11-day trip". Archived from the original on 7 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  18. ^ 日本テレビ (29 December 2014). "二十歳の佳子さま　天皇陛下から宝冠大綬章｜日テレNEWS NNN" [Princess Kako, Aged 20, Receives the Order of the Precious Crown with Grand Cordon from His Majesty the Emperor]. 日テレNEWS NNN (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  19. ^
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"Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino and their family". at the Imperial Household Agency website. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2012.

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