Princess Aiko graduates from high school

NHK -- Mar 23

Princess Aiko, the daughter of Japan's Emperor and Empress, has attended her graduation ceremony at Gakushuin Girls' Senior High School in Tokyo.

The princess was wearing a facemask as she appeared at the school on Sunday for a scaled-down ceremony amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

She posed for photos at the school gate and spoke to reporters with a smile. She said she had had many experiences and had enjoyed a good school life.

She smiled and waved to people on the street who had come out to celebrate her graduation.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako did not take part in the ceremony. They said in a statement they were thinking about the difficulties people are facing because of the coronavirus.

Many schools in Japan held ceremonies without parents this year due to concerns about the spread of the virus.

Mar 23 (ANNnewsCH) - 天皇皇后両陛下の長女・愛子さまは22日、学習院女子高等科を卒業されました。  愛子さま:「たくさんの経験ができ、とても楽しく、充実した学校生活が送ることができたと思います。お世話になった先生方やお友達、すべての関わって下さった皆さまに心から感謝しております」  高校3年生の愛子さまはマスク姿で登校し、卒業式に臨まれました。両陛下は新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大の状況から出席を控えましたが、「貴重な経験を重ねながら様々なことを学び、楽しく実り多い日々を送ることができたと思います」と国民への感謝の気持ちを寄せられています。愛子さまは4月から学習院大学文学部の日本語日本文学科に進学されます。