Princess Akiko of Mikasa delivered a lecture in Luxembourg-Kirchberg on Tuesday.
The international goodwill advocate, Princess Akiko, is once again representing the Imperial Family and Japan abroad. It was previously announced that the Princess—who not only has a Doctor of Philosophy in Japanese Art from the University of Oxford but also works as a Professor—would again travel to Europe.
On Monday, the Princess was pictured departing Japan from Haneda Airport after being seen off by IHA staff and various officials. The Princess is scheduled for various engagements, including dinners, speeches, and attending a youth rugby tournament.
Akiko, 44, is also an author who has worked in various roles, including Postdoctoral Fellow and Special Invited Associate Professor at the Kinugasa Research Organisation, Ritsumeikan University. The Princess, per the IHA, primarily works outside of being a Member of the Imperial Family as a Special Professor at the Institute of Japanese Culture, Kyoto Sangyo University, while also “lecturing at Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto City University of Arts, Chiba Institute of Technology, Kokugakuin University, Kokushikan University and other institutions.”
She has an interest in the understanding of reproduction techniques in both Japanese and Western art, as well as the preservation of Japanese cultural traditions. Notably, the Princess’s previous research has focused on Western collections of Japanese fine art and how Japanese culture was, and still is, perceived, particularly during the Victorian era. She is the first woman in the Imperial Family to have received a PhD.
In Luxembourg on Tuesday, the Princess arrived at the Musée Dräi Eechelen and was given a short tour of the museum. Akiko had described the topic as “the perfect example of this dialogue between culture,” per Chronicle.lu. The lecture was organised by the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art (MNAHA), in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Luxembourg.
While copying can be interpreted as a misuse of someone’s original work, in Japanese culture, it can be seen as a way of appreciation, admiration and conservation. During the lecture, the Princess noted the significant role which the West and Japan have played, with “strong interaction”, in developing techniques used in reproductions.
Akiko explained to around 140 guests how Japanese artwork has been studied and reproduced over the decades through exchanges that go beyond physical borders and shape societal norms. The Princess also noted that the study and dissemination of art, particularly during the Meiji and Victorian eras, preserved Japanese cultural heritage as it spread to the Western world. This aligns with the title of Princess Akiko’s lecture, “The Art of Copying — Creating Reproductions for the West”.
The Princess also received a bouquet of flowers at the end of her lecture, further strengthening ties between the Grand Duchy and Europe with Japan.
Princess Akiko will attend further engagement in Luxembourg before visiting the Principality of Monaco from the 19th to the 24th March. At the invitation of Prince Albert II, the Princess will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries at “Japan Day”. As Honorary Patron of the Japan Rugby Football Union, Her Imperial Highness will also attend the Monégasque Sainte Dévote Tournament as well as the annual Rose Ball.
The Royal News Organisation will keep you up to date with the Princess’s European visit.
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