Society

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

OXFORD, Jun 23 (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

Japanese Doctor in U.S. to Be Arrested Over Naritasan Vandalism

Police plan to arrest a Japanese doctor in his 60s who lives in the United States and is suspected of spraying an oil-like liquid at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture in 2015, with the suspect expected to arrive in Japan as early as March 4th, investigators said.

Japan To Set Rules For Higher Tourist Fees

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced plans to draw up guidelines for the introduction of a so-called dual pricing system that differentiates between foreign visitors and local residents.

Kyoto Raises Lodging Tax as Peak Travel Season Begins

Kyoto City significantly raised its lodging tax from March 1st, increasing the maximum charge per person per night from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 yen, in a move aimed at tackling overtourism and funding the preservation of cultural assets, even as questions remain about its impact on visitors and the local economy.

Foreign Visitors and Ex-Rescuer Pull 80-Year-Old Woman From Hakuba Crashed Car

A former emergency responder and foreign tourists worked together to rescue a woman in her 80s who was trapped inside an overturned light vehicle in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.

Tokyo Metro Begins Touchless Ticket Gate Trial

Tokyo Metro and Toshiba have launched Japan’s first demonstration test allowing passengers to pass through ticket gates without touching them by using their smartphones’ Bluetooth function.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Five Arrested in Tokyo Midnight Drifting

Five people have been arrested after repeatedly performing dangerous drift driving on a road in Tokyo’s Ota Ward, sending up clouds of white smoke in the middle of the night and drawing police scrutiny.

Mountains of Garbage Plague Tokyo Public Housing Complex

Large amounts of what appear to be illegally dumped garbage line the roadside at the Tokyo Metropolitan Kirigaoka Danchi in Kita Ward, where a decline in residents has left fewer eyes to monitor the sprawling public housing complex that first opened in the 1950s.

Foreign Visitors and Ex-Rescuer Pull 80-Year-Old Woman From Hakuba Crashed Car

A former emergency responder and foreign tourists worked together to rescue a woman in her 80s who was trapped inside an overturned light vehicle in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.

Fuji-Q Highland Supervisor Sent to Prosecutors

A site supervisor at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, was referred to prosecutors on March 2nd over a fatal accident in February 2025 in which an employee died during maintenance work.

Female Teacher Arrested Over Deadly Assault on Elderly Man

A 48-year-old woman who works as a lecturer at an Osaka prefectural high school was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a man in Osaka, with the man later confirmed dead at the hospital where he was taken.

Men Clash in Centuries-Old Naked Festival

The Konomiya Hadaka Festival, an unusual Shinto ritual dating back more than 1,250 years in which men wearing only loincloths collide violently with one another, was held on March 1st at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, drawing around 10,000 participants who surged toward a designated “sacred man” believed to absorb misfortune through physical contact.

Avalanche Strikes Nagano-Niigata Ski Resort, Four Injured

An avalanche struck an advanced-level course at Madarao Kogen Ski Resort, which spans Niigata and Nagano prefectures, on February 28th, leaving four people injured, including two family members.

Man Dies After Falling During Ice Climbing in Gifu

A man in his 50s died after falling while ice climbing in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, on March 2nd, after a report was made shortly after 9 a.m. from a person at the scene in Osakacho stating that he had fallen along with a sheet of ice and become trapped beneath the collapsed mass.

< 2 3 4 5 >