Royal Profile: HIRH Aiko, Princess Toshi

Aiko, Princess Toshi was born 1 December 2001, the only child to the Japanese heir apparent and his wife.

In a break of tradition, rather than her name being chosen by the emperor, her name was chosen by her parents which was Aiko and is written with kanji character for "love (愛)" and "child (子)". her name means "a person who loves others." She also has an imperial title, Princess Toshi (敬宮 toshi-no-miya) which means "a person who respects others."This formal title will be dropped if she marries a commoner. The Imperial Household Law of 1947 abolished the Japanese nobility; and under provisions of this law, the imperial family was streamlined to the descendants of Emperor Taishō. The laws of succession in Japan exclude females or males through a female line; if the laws were changed, Aiko would be second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.When she was born, it was debated whether or not the laws should change, however, with the birth of her male cousin five years later, the debates have-at least for now-been tabled.

She began her education at the Gakushuin Kindergarten on April 3, 2006. She graduated from the school on March 15, 2008. In early March, 2010, Aiko began to stay home from school due to being bullied by her elementary school classmates. The young Princess returned to school on a limited basis on May 2, 2010. Since returning, she has attended a limited number of classes accompanied by her mother.

On Princess Aiko's eighth birthday, it was revealed her interests were typical of girls her age: writing Kanji characters, calligraphy, jump rope, playing piano and violin, and writing poetry.