Spring garden party

That's a lovely photo. I'm glad they had some nice spring weather to enjoy. Thanks for running this, JT!

Thumbs down away, but it was an insensitive and baseless comment. No one here has shown any reason to believe the Princess Masako's absence was anything other than her own choice.

So, what did the mice get up to for play when the cats were away? A listen to your favorite music? A sleep in? A stroll in the garden? Or better yet, an incognito sojourn outside the palace gates where you could simply enjoy being around everyday people?

Whatever it was that she did, I hope she enjoyed herself.

And speaking of him (reverently), is that a hair color change from his former grey shag?

It certainly looks like that may be the case. The Prince's hair does like much darker than I've seen in previous photos.

The Reigning Emperor and Empress look marvelous.

Yes, they certainly do!

@seito258: Because there are people who don't know which one is emperor as JT is not Japanese oriented times. When writing other IP members, JT politely wrote who is who of IP members,

The man in front of Emperor and Empress is an official of NaimuCho (Otsuki-no-hito) Hr ushers royak slowly to ensure 81 years old Emperor and 80 years old Empress slowly to ensure they won't slip on that slope.

What a pity that Masako wasn't allowed out of her prison to take part. How stressful could it be for her to play follow the leader, smile and shake hands with a few people.

Considering that the man walking in front of the Emperor looks decidedly more imperial, I think the info is useful. Even though most of us know what the Emperor looks like, there was a time in each of our lives when we didn't.

A bit of rough calculation... If you assume there are 135,000 westerners in Japan who might visit JT (50% of whom have never seen the Emperor before coming to Japan), and that they stay for an average of 5 years, it still means that everyday there are an average of 37 westerners who discover what the Emperor looks like for the first time.

What a pity that Masako wasn't allowed out of her prison to take part. How stressful could it be for her to play follow the leader, smile and shake hands with a few people.

Personally, I find your comment both baseless and insensitive. Whatever makes you suggest that she was not allowed to participate? Perhaps she was under the weather or she felt like she did not want to participate. In case you are unaware, her husband,Crown Prince Naruhito, has been extremely supportive of her.

We missed seeing you Masako. So, what did the mice get up to for play when the cats were away? A listen to your favorite music? A sleep in? A stroll in the garden? Or better yet, an incognito sojourn outside the palace gates where you could simply enjoy being around everyday people?

By the way, that is Kiko, Princess Akishino, just behind her husband's left shoulder. And speaking of him (reverently), is that a hair color change from his former grey shag?

The Reigning Emperor and Empress look marvelous.

Why did they think we need to be told who the Emperor is?

But he's a prominent world and historical figure. Unless you're from an isolated Amazon tribe, you should know who he is.