Crown Princess Masako said she is humbled by Emperor’s abdication

December 9, 2017

Tokyo- Japanese Crown Princess Masako said she feels humbled thinking about her future, after Emperor Akihito's abdication was formally set for April 30, 2019.

In a written message released on Saturday to mark her 54th anniversary, the Crown Princess pledged efforts to fulfill her duties while supporting her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito.

With the Crown Prince set to accede to the throne on May 1, 2019, Crown Princess Masako will be the country's new empress.

The Crown Princess said she is deeply impressed by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for serving official duties for such a long time while praying for the happiness of Japanese people.

"I want to extend my respect and appreciation from the bottom of my heart" to the Emperor and the Empress, the Crown Princess said.

While continuing treatment for adjustment disorder, Crown Princess Masako has managed to visit the six Japan prefectures of Akita, Miyagi, Kyoto, Nara, Kagawa and Kochi with the Crown Prince for official duties this year, up from four prefectures last year.

The Crown Princess said now she can join more activities than before thanks to support from the people around her.

Her number of outings, including those within Tokyo and those on duties, stood at 64, up seven from last year.

Crown Princess Masako also referred to her thoughts on disabled people and disaster-hit areas, including northern parts of the Kyushu southwestern region hit by severe rains in July, stemming from her duties. She said she is concerned about people in socially weak positions facing difficult situations.

On Princess Mako, who is informally engaged to her university classmate Kei Komuro, the Crown Princess said, "I'm deeply moved to see her growth." Princess Mako is the first daughter of Prince Akishino, the second son of Emperor Akihito.

Crown Princess Masako has carried out official duties one at a time, and this gives her confidence and she can now join activities in broader fields, her doctors said.

But they added that the Crown Princess is still in recovery with ups and downs in her health, expressing views that excessive expectations for expanding activities would have adverse effects. Jiji Press