Tragic story of the world's loneliest princess - who faces a harrowing choice

May 22, 2022 | News On Japan

Japan’s Princess Toshi cannot ascend to the throne and must decide whether to risk national scandal by marrying a commoner or become a chaste shrine maiden as she navigates the country’s conservative traditions

May 22, 2022 (mirror.co.uk) - The life of a princess is envied around the world. Royal palaces, lavish ceremonies and a huge wedding are all usually part of the package. But Japan's Princess Toshi is said to be the loneliest princess.

The 20-year-old, also known as Princess Aiko, is the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

The young princess had a difficult childhood and said she was bullied at school.

Princess Toshi lives in the imperial palace in Tokyo without any companions of her own age and is yet to marry.

Royal tradition in Japan is particularly restrictive for women and they are only permitted to marry members of nobility.

But as there are none left in Japan which leaves Princess Toshi in a heartbreaking position. ...continue reading

Osaka’s Minami Rebuilt Into Tourist Hub

Osaka’s Minami district, now entering another period of major change with the planned opening of the Naniwasuji Line, the redevelopment of Midosuji and improvements around Nankai Namba Station, has transformed from an area once described as "scary" and "dirty" into one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations.

Crowds Join First Pull of 10-Ton Gion Festival Float

A 10-ton hoko float was pulled through central Kyoto on July 12 in a trial run ahead of the Yamahoko Junko procession during the Gion Festival's early parade.

Young Doctors Flock to Cosmetic Medicine

A growing number of young doctors in Japan are moving directly into cosmetic medicine after obtaining a medical license and completing their initial clinical training, raising concern that the trend may be worsening staff shortages in insurance-covered medical care.

Typhoon No. 9 Travel Disruptions Continue on Some Okinawa Routes

Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 9 (Bavi) continued on July 12, with airlines warning that some flights serving Okinawa’s outlying islands could still face delays, cancellations or conditional operations even after the storm moved away from the prefecture.

JAXA Successfully Lands Reusable Rocket Test Vehicle

JAXA successfully landed a small experimental vehicle for a reusable rocket on July 11, marking a step toward technology that could increase the frequency of space launches while helping reduce costs.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Indonesian Man Dies After Jumping Into Waterfall

Two men died on July 11 in separate water accidents in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, including an Indonesian man who apparently drowned after jumping into a waterfall basin and a fisherman swept away while trying to recover his fishing gear.

Kawagoe Seeks Removal of Unauthorized Mosque

An unauthorized Islamic prayer hall has been built on land in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, where new construction is generally prohibited, prompting the city to order the landowner to remove the structure.

Three Men Arrested After Masks and Crowbars Found in Parking Lot

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing to rob a home in Saitama City after police found new face masks and crowbars hidden in shrubbery at a coin-operated parking lot.

Empress Harvests Silk Cocoons at Imperial Palace

Empress Masako harvested wild silk cocoons at the Imperial Palace on July 9, continuing the long-standing sericulture tradition passed down through generations of empresses since the Meiji era.

Firefighter Arrested for Allegedly Tying Up 6-Year-Old Girl

A firefighter with the Toyonaka City Fire Department has been arrested on suspicion of confining his live-in partner's 6-year-old daughter at their home and causing her injury.

Temple Priest Killed in Ishikawa, Son Arrested After Confessing at Convenience Store

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly stabbing his father, a temple priest in his 70s, to death at their home in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, on July 8, before going to a convenience store and telling a clerk, "I stabbed my father."

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Sewing Housemate’s Lips Shut

A 49-year-old woman in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, has been arrested on suspicion of injuring a 42-year-old woman she lived with by sewing her upper and lower lips together multiple times with a threaded needle, police said.

Landslide Tears Through Shiga Neighborhood

A landslide that occurred directly in front of homes in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, on July 7 caused part of a garden to collapse and cut off a road, bringing down an area about 25 meters wide and 80 meters long, including residential property.

< 2 3 4 5 >