The Japanese princess makes her own plans.
Princess Aiko of Japan is now 22 years old, and that means she has her work cut out for her. As a royal, you would think. But nothing could be further from the truth: Aiko will soon start working as a ‘regular’ employee at the Japanese Red Cross.
Conservative Japan
Although she is the eldest and only child of the current emperor, Princess Aiko is not allowed to take over the imperial baton later according to Japanese law. This succession has been discussed for years. Because a woman on the throne is something that even the most conservative court has to accept in the 21st century, right? However, after a huge debate, it was decided that it would only remain with male heirs to the throne. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for Princess Aiko, who now has no future ahead of her as empress.
Red Cross
However, the fact that Aiko cannot work as empress does not mean that she will now give up. Instead, she applied for a job with the Japanese Red Cross, and was successful. The princess can start working there on April 1. Aiko is currently still studying Japanese language and literature at the Faculty of Arts of Gakushuin University, but if all goes according to plan, she will receive her diploma this spring.
Because Aiko is extremely popular in Japan, it was expected that the princess would work as a full-time royal after her studies. However, she – smart as she is – put a stop to that. Working for the Chrysanthemum Throne as a woman is incredibly restrictive, and Aiko apparently clearly needs more than just silently and smiling at traditional royal events.
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“I am grateful to have been offered a job as a contract worker for the Japanese Red Cross,” Aiko said in a statement. “I am happy and honored to work for this organization that has always interested me. I will continue to learn different things and work hard knowing that I am a member of society, so I hope that, even if only in a small way, I can be useful to people and society.”
Well prepared
With this big step ahead, Aiko prepares for a semi-civilian life. And that is wise, because if the princess ever marries, she will lose her title and position at court. Unless she has her eye on a Japanese aristo, but that chance is statistically very small. There is a possibility that Aiko will have to hold her own outside the palace walls in the next few years, and as a born princess you better prepare yourself for that. Well played, Aiko!
Source: All Things Amalia, Glamial archive | Image: NL Image
