愛子さま、２２歳に　成年皇族の務め重ねる

　天皇、皇后両陛下の長女愛子さまは１日、２２歳の誕生日を迎えられた。コロナ禍の行動制限緩和により、大学の多くの科目で対面授業が再開。今春からキャンパスに通い、忙しく充実した日々を送る。新年一般参賀にも初めて臨み、成年皇族としての務めを重ねている。
　現在、学習院大文学部日本語日本文学科の４年生。宮内庁によると、平安、鎌倉、江戸、明治時代の文学作品などを通して学びを深め、卒業論文に取り組んでいる。交友関係も広がり、１１月には学園祭を楽しんだ。
　日本の伝統文化に加え、福祉活動全般に関心があり、１０月に両陛下と日本赤十字本社を訪れ、１００年前の関東大震災時の救護活動を伝える企画展を見学。常設展も見て回り、日赤の活動初期に昭憲皇太后（明治天皇の皇后）が果たした役割の大きさを感慨深く思っている様子だった。（2023/12/01-00:16）

Japanese Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, turned 22 on Friday, as she is leading a busy and fulfilling university life.
   The princess is currently in her final year at the Faculty of Letters at Gakushuin University in Tokyo. After pandemic-related restrictions were lifted in the country, in-person classes resumed for many courses at her university.
   She started to attend classes on campus this spring. Based on literature from Japan's Heian, Kamakura, Edo and Meiji periods, she is working on her graduation thesis. Meanwhile, the princess enjoyed the university's school festival in November, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
   In addition to Japan's traditional culture, the princess is interested in welfare activities. In October, she and her parents visited the headquarters of the Japanese Red Cross Society to see a special exhibition on relief activities following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
   She also looked around the permanent exhibition there and seemed to be impressed by the involvement of Empress Dowager Shoken, the wife of Emperor Meiji, in the early years of the organization's activities.