On her 58th birthday Thursday, Empress Masako expressed hopes that her daughter Princess Aiko, who recently came of age, would "grow step by step" to successfully fulfill her duties as an adult member of the imperial family.
"The 20 years since Aiko's birth seem to have been both long and fleeting, but I am deeply moved by the many memories that come to mind," the empress said in a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency.
"It is hard to believe that little Aiko is already an adult. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has warmly watched over her growth," she added.