Japan emperor's daughter Aiko turns 20, throne not in sight
ABC News
Japanese Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, has turned 20, ready for a debut as a new adult member to take a share of official duties for the royal family whose population continues to shrink under the male-only succession law
TOKYO -- Japanese Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, on Wednesday turned 20, ready for a debut as a new adult member to take a share of official duties for the royal family whose population continues to shrink under the male-only succession law.
Aiko is the only child of Naruhito and Empress Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat. She is currently studying Japanese literature at Gakushuin University, and says she is willing to help her parents by participating in royal duties.
“I would like to refine myself and move forward step by step so that I can grow into an adult who can be of service to others,” Aiko said in a statement released Wednesday by the Imperial Household Agency.
Aiko, whether she likes or not, is not eligible to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. Under Japanese law, she also has to leave her family if she marries a commoner, just like her older cousin, Mako, last month when she married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro.
