Princess Kako of Japan is captured dozing in an economy seat of a domestic flight in Brazil. /Courtesy of SCMP

Princess Kako of Japan, who is the niece of Emperor Naruhito, was captured sleeping in an economy class seat on a plane after an official visit to Brazil.

On the 29th of last month, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Princess Kako toured eight cities in Brazil for 11 days at the invitation of the Brazilian government from the 5th to the 15th of last month. This visit was part of an official schedule commemorating the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.

Among these, a video posted on social media on the 12th of last month became a hot topic among Japanese netizens. The video captured Princess Kako sitting in an economy class seat on a Brazilian domestic flight, sleeping with her eyes closed against the wall inside a darkened plane. Individuals who appeared to be royal family members were sitting next to her.

The video quickly spread online. Japanese netizens reacted with comments like, "It's no wonder she must be tired with such a schedule; that's impressive," "She looks like a porcelain doll," and "Given the intense schedule of visiting multiple cities in one day, it's understandable."

Princess Kako (on the left) officially visits Brazil on the 8th. /Courtesy of Chosun DB

Some netizens expressed concerns about privacy, stating, "It's inappropriate to film personal moments without permission." In response, the Minister of the Imperial Household Agency noted in a press conference on the 13th of last month that "videos taken without consent during personal time are undesirable" and urged caution regarding the sharing of such videos.

Princess Kako, who is gaining popularity among her compatriots with her bright and sophisticated image, has a history of enjoying figure skating during her childhood and won a local competition in 2007. Subsequently, she majored in performing arts and psychology at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and is proficient in sign language.

Since her sister Princess Mako left the royal family to marry a commoner in 2021, Kako has participated in various official duties and has engaged in numerous charitable activities as a representative of the Japanese royal family.

Princess Kako is also attracting attention in the Japanese fashion industry. A post featuring information about the white camellia dress she wore during her Brazil visit garnered nearly 700,000 views on social media. Last year's deep blue short-sleeved knit and white wide pants worn during her visit to Greece also sold out completely.

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