Emperor and Empress Revisit Oxford: A Journey Back to Their Academic Roots

Jun 23, 2024 | News On Japan

OXFORD, Jun 23, 2024 (News On Japan) - Among the various scheduled activities for the Emperor and Empress of Japan as they embark on their journey to the United Kingdom is a visit to Oxford, a city filled with personal memories from their time as students there.

The Emperor and Empress's Oxford Beginnings

This visit marks the Emperor's first official visit to Britain in 23 years, since 2001, spanning an eight-day itinerary that includes welcome ceremonies and a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Archive footage shows the Emperor, then 25, cycling spiritedly around Oxford University, where he studied. Similarly, Empress Masako studied at Oxford during her time in the Foreign Ministry, although their periods of study did not overlap.

Insider Stories from Oxford

This visit provided an opportunity to speak with individuals familiar with Empress Masako's time as a student. Yoko Tochi, a university friend from the University of Tokyo, shared her memories: "During the Golden Week of May 1990, Empress Masako showed me around Oxford. She was very tanned and seemed very happy and lively."

Tochi recalled how Empress Masako had helped her navigate the town during her visit, even choosing less conspicuous routes to avoid drawing attention amidst heated media speculation about her potential role as a royal consort.

Tochi expressed her gratitude, noting, "Empress Masako came out to guide me despite being in the middle of her exams. I am truly thankful for her guidance; without that day in May, I wouldn't have chosen Oxford myself."

The Influence of Oxford

Their time at Oxford provided both the Emperor and Empress with experiences that profoundly shaped their identities, free from the constraints they faced in Japan. Tochi speculates that these shared experiences likely forged a strong bond between them, "Having two years of common profound experiences may have served as a bond that brought them together."

We also spoke with the owner of a Chinese restaurant frequented by Empress Masako, Mr. Shuman Che: "Empress Masako visited several times. She often ate Peking duck with her friends."

Interestingly, Emperor Naruhito also dined at the same restaurant, favoring dishes like Mapo tofu and rice, according to Che.

Broader Impacts and Royal Connections

The Emperor himself has reflected on the significance of such interactions, noting during a press conference on June 19th how a chance meeting at a university cafeteria led to forming a string quartet, highlighting the personal connections made during meals.

Philip Whitmore, a fellow student, reminisced about deepening their friendship over meals, where they playfully referred to the then-prince as "Prince Hiro," spurred by his eagerness to engage in chamber music.

The bonds between the Japanese Imperial Family and the British Royal Family have deepened over the decades, with each visit reinforcing their warm relations. This trip is expected to further enhance the profound connection between the two royal families, enriching the enduring relationship between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Source: ANN

Google Opens Flagship Store in Tokyo's Omotesando

Google opened its first flagship store in Japan in Tokyo's Omotesando district at 2 p.m. on August 13, marking the company's first flagship retail location outside the United States.

The Unseen Reality of Kumamoto Quake Survivors

Fifteen days after the Kumamoto earthquake, restoration of electricity and transport infrastructure is progressing, but thousands of people are believed to remain outside official shelters, while rising construction costs and interest rates are creating new challenges for rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods.

Jellyfish-Like Red Glow Lights Up Kanagawa

A mysterious red light stretching vertically across the night sky over Kanagawa Prefecture has been identified as a rare "sprite," a brief luminous phenomenon that occurs high above thunderclouds at roughly the same time as powerful lightning strikes.

Awa Odori Dancers Fill Tokushima Streets

Street performances began across Tokushima on August 12 as the city's Awa Odori festival entered its second day, with leading dance groups showcasing graceful routines after months of practice.

Newly Formed Typhoon No. 17 Could Near Kanto by Weekend

A large new typhoon formed near the Ogasawara Islands on August 12 and could approach Honshu around the end of the Obon holiday period, while the remnants of Typhoon No. 15 continue to bring unstable weather and a risk of heavy rain across a wide area of Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Pythons Escape From Apartment in Kawasaki

Two pet pythons measuring about 2 meters in length escaped from an apartment in Kawasaki's Tama Ward early on August 13, prompting police and firefighters to search the surrounding residential area and warn local residents.

Teens on Stolen Motorcycle Fire Rockets at Police Officers

Two teenage boys from Tokyo's Adachi Ward have been arrested on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle and firing aerial fireworks toward police officers at two police boxes, telling investigators they were annoyed that a new police box had opened in the area.

Japanese Woman Trapped in North Korea for 40 Years

Hiroko Saito was 19 years old when she left Japan for North Korea in June 1961 with her Korean husband and their one-year-old daughter, persuaded by assurances that they were heading to a "paradise on earth" and that she could return to Japan after three years. Instead, she would spend four decades in North Korea, enduring chronic hunger, the deaths of her husband and children and a desperate struggle to survive before finally escaping and returning home in 2001.

Fire Breaks Out at Daido Steel Chita Plant in Aichi

A fire broke out late on August 11 at Daido Steel's Chita Plant in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, burning through an outdoor area containing scrap metal and other materials, with no injuries reported and no flames spreading to nearby buildings.

Fake Images of Kumamoto Earthquake Spread Online

Two weeks after the Kumamoto earthquake, the spread of malicious fake images has emerged as a problem in disaster-hit communities, with one resident saying the manipulation feels like an insult to everyone in his area.

Osaka Police Pound on Door Before Raiding Yakuza Office

Osaka Prefectural Police searched an office linked to the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, on July 29 as part of an investigation into suspected receipt of money obtained through special fraud.

Zombie Cigarette Drug Busts Rise Across Kansai

Authorities in Kyoto and Osaka have arrested three men in separate drug cases involving so-called zombie cigarettes containing the designated drug etomidate, as investigators step up efforts against the illegal trade in the Kansai region.

Raccoon Damage Surges Across Japan

Raccoons are increasingly invading homes across Japan, damaging roofs and wiring, contaminating buildings with large amounts of urine and feces, and raising concerns over agriculture, native wildlife and the spread of disease as their population continues to expand.

< 2 3 4 5 >