World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
Woman crosses in front of Princess Kako at Kyoto Station, prompting security concerns
Princess Kako visited Kyoto for a welfare event scheduled in the city on October 18, arriving the day before.
At Kyoto Station, a woman walked close in front of her as she made her way to a car.
Kako appeared to pause briefly, but then got into the car without further incident.
Video of the crossing spread online, and some people questioned whether security staff had kept enough distance between the princess and the public.
Others said the woman may not have noticed Kako as she walked past.
The discussion also raised a broader question about balancing royal protection with limiting disruption to ordinary people.
No change to security arrangements was announced in the information available.
A woman crossed directly in front of Princess Kako at Kyoto Station as she headed to a car, prompting questions about her security.
Kako was in Kyoto to attend the 30th National Welfare Conference for People with Mid- and Late-Onset Hearing Loss.
Video of the crossing spread online, where some users criticized the security arrangements.
Other users suggested the woman may not have noticed Kako.
An X summary said the Akishino household favors keeping security limited out of consideration for everyday public life.
- Who
- Princess Kako and a woman walking through the station.
- What
- The woman crossed directly in front of Kako as she headed to a car.
- When
- October 17; the articles say Kako arrived in Kyoto that day.
- Where
- Kyoto Station, in Kyoto City.
- Why
- Kako was in Kyoto to attend the 30th National Welfare Conference for People with Mid- and Late-Onset Hearing Loss.
Online security critics
Viewpoint favoring limited security
Security
Online security critics
Critics said the woman should not have been allowed so close and called for security to be reviewed.
Viewpoint favoring limited security
An X summary said the Akishino household favors minimal security out of consideration for citizens’ daily lives.
The woman’s actions
Online security critics
Some users raised the possibility that she could have posed a threat.
Viewpoint favoring limited security
Other users said she may have been unaware of Kako and simply walked past.
Kako arrived in Kyoto ahead of the conference.
Kako attended the 30th National Welfare Conference for People with Mid- and Late-Onset Hearing Loss in Kyoto City.
An X summary said video of the crossing had spread and security was being criticized.
Sirabee published an account of the incident and the online reaction.
- Location
- Kyoto Station, Kyoto City
- Person
- Princess Kako, the younger daughter of Prince and Princess Akishino
- Arrival
- October 17
- Event
- 30th National Welfare Conference for People with Mid- and Late-Onset Hearing Loss
- Online reaction
- The video spread on social media, and “red-skirt woman” briefly trended there
3 sources
What people are saying
If she had a knife in her pocket, what would they have done?
I really don’t think they noticed.
What are the security officers doing?