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Friday January 12, 8:16 PMCrown princess greets volunteer workers for 1st time in 3 yrs(Kyodo) _ Crown Princess Masako, who is recuperating from a stress-related illness, greeted volunteer workers at Crown Prince Naruhito's Residence in Tokyo's Motoakasaka district on Friday for the first time in more than three years, the Imperial Household Agency said.An official of the Board of the Crown Prince's Household said the 43-year-old crown princess did so "because she was feeling well." The last time she greeted such volunteers was in November 2003. People come to Tokyo from across the country to do cleaning work as volunteers at the Imperial Palace and the Akasaka Estate, where the crown prince, the crown princess and their daughter Princess Aiko, 5, live. It has been customary for Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako to meet with such workers about twice a week to express gratitude for their work. On Friday morning, the 46-year-old crown prince and his wife chatted with a group of about 40 volunteers from Aomori Prefecture, the agency said. With the crown princess largely absent from public duties for about three years to concentrate on her recovery, some pundits were suggesting that she begin greeting volunteer workers to get used to performing public duties. The Harvard-educated former diplomat has been treated for adjustment disorder, a condition in which stress induces anxiety and depression. Her doctors say her stress is attributed to her status as crown princess and issues related to pregnancy. She has relinquished most of her public duties since December 2003. |
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