On 30th March, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko alone without her royal husband His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito was surrounded by the family to attend the annual concert of the graduates from 5 music universities took place at the Music Hall inside Imperial Palace.
Her Imperial Majesty was accompanied by her elder son His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito, his wife Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako, her younger son His Imperial Highness Prince Fumihito of Akishino, his wife Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko, Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako and Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino, Her Imperial Highness  Princess Hanako of Hitachi, Her Imperial Highness Princess Hisako of Takamado came with her daughter Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako of Takamado.
Photo Credits from Mainichi:

The Imperial Crown Prince Family, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito accompanied by his wife and daughter Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Princess Masako and Princess Aiko visited the 'Botticelli and His Time' exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum on March 14th in Tokyo, Japan. Sandro Botticelli is known for his paintings of elegantly beautiful Madonnas and goddesses of myth. This exhibition is an event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy.

Japan's Imperial Crown Prince family, Their Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito accompanied by his wife Crown Princess Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko attended the screening of 'The Summit of the Gods', a charity screening for the Nepal earthquake victims, in Tokyo, Japan. Before the screening, the Crown Prince Family met with the film crew. The Summit of the Gods is a manga series written and illustrated by Jiro Taniguchi
Photo Credits: Asahi

On 1st March, HIH Crown Prince Naruhito met with President of the Arab Republic of Egypt HE Mr Abdel-Fattah El-SISI, at Imperial Palace on behave of his father HIM Emperor Akihito who was recently diagnosed with influenza.
After the audience, HIH Crown Prince hosted a luncheon for the President. His younger brother HIH Prince Fumihito of Akishino was in attendance.
Photo credit: Sankei

Their Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako attended the commemorating ceremony of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of Public Interest Incorporated Foundation SYD which is developing social education activity, took place in Tokyo on Feb 7th.
Photo Credits: Asahi

In these first days of January, the Japanese imperial family gathered as usual around Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The year 2016 started in Tokyo with the spread of Akihito family photo. Or rather three photos taken last November 15 and January 1 revealed that the whole Imperial Household Family. Sitting in front of a coffee table at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the Japanese Emperor who has just turned 82 years poses alongside his wife Empress Michiko who was dressed in a traditional kimono, their sons H.I.H Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, their spouses Crown Princess Masako and Princess Kiko, and their four grandchildren. While the little prince Hisahito, 9, animates the scene, changing position, his two older sisters T.I.H Princess Mako 24, and Kako, 21, and their cousin H.I.H Princess Aiko, 14, standing quietly lined up behind their parents and grandparents.

Last year, this annual photo shoot took place in the absence of Mako, who mysteriously was missing. We had learned  later during the year that the young woman was then in England, where she spent a year in discreetly as part of his studies.

On New Year, the Imperial Household hosed the annual New Years reception.

After the traditional ceremony of New Year at the Imperial Palace, the whole family  found, Saturday, January 2, to appear glazed balcony to greet the crowd of Japanese came to hear the speech of Emperor Akihito. As Crown Princess Masako, her two nieces Mako and Kako had chosen to dress in blue. The two sisters showed dresses with necklines and sleeves identical underlined with a line of small buttons. Both wearing a bun, the two women also wore identical pearl necklaces, earrings matching their oreilles.

On Monday, January 4, the Emperor of Japan presided over the opening of the session of Parliament.
Photo Credit: Paris Match