On February 14, 2025, Princess Aiko of Japan hosted a winter reception at the Imperial Household Agency’s Shinhama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, where she met foreign ambassadors for the first time. Together with her cousin, Princess Kako, she welcomed ambassadors from 12 countries, including Switzerland and Cuba.

The gathering at the preserve is an annual traditional winter event organized by the Imperial Household Agency. The agency currently manages two Imperial Wild Duck Preserves: the Saitama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, and the Shinhama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve in Ichikawa City, Chiba.

Shinhama Imperial Wild Duck Preserve is also known as the site where Emperor Naruhito proposed to Empress Masako. In October 1992, a year before their marriage, then-Crown Prince Naruhito discreetly visited the preserve without security, riding in a vehicle used by Imperial Household Agency staff. There, he secretly proposed to Masako Owada, who was then working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Posted by kingbobbyjoe

7 comments

  1. Duck netting seems bizarre and especially cruel . I know it’s a traditional thing in Japan, it’s an event for the imperial family that’s been long practiced.

    There seems to be no skill needed. Not saying shooting ducks is right (I am against hunting for sport and fun), but at least that requires a skill, compared to just throwing a net out to capture ducks.

  2. I barely even noticed the ducks because Aiko’s skirt is *exactly* what my school uniform skirt looked like 😭

  3. They both look like they’re enjoying it and happy to see the Princesses. Duck netting?

  4. Her skirt and skirt were my school uniform from grades 1-7 (8th graders got a little more freedom)

  5. Aww so adorable. These two deserve so much better than to be cast out of the royal family the moment they marry.

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