| Yesterday, on December 1, 2017, Princess Aiko, one and only daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako turned 16. Aiko was born on December 1, 2001 at Tokyo Imperial Household Agency Hospital. The Imperial Palace published a series of photos on the occasion of that birthday. The Princess visited the Imperial Palace on December 1 after her school. (Note: On December 1, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announced that Emperor Akihito will abdicate the throne on April 30, 2019 and that Crown Prince Naruhito will be the emperor on May 1, 2019, according to the recommendations made at the meeting of Imperial Houses Council) |