'Superfan' of Japan's royals has followed them for decades

'Superfan' of Japan's royals has followed them for decades

Advertisement

Wherever Japan's royals go, there too goes Fumiko Shirataki: in summer heat and winter cold, to the ocean and to the mountains.

Except when it snows or rains too hard.

. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki and her friends react after taking photographs of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at Tokyo Station.

"You can't get good pictures then - and if the camera lens gets wet, it might get damaged. I really worry about that," said Shirataki, 78, who has spent the last 26 years following and photographing Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and especially Crown Princess Masako.

"As soon as I know their plans I'll be there - though it's hard if I only find out the night before." she added.

. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki and her friend show each other photographs they took of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Shirataki's passion for "okkake," as the pursuit is known in Japan, began in 1993, when she followed then-Masako Owada after her engagement to Crown Prince Naruhito but couldn't get good photos.

"I wasn't used to carrying such a heavy camera, so I'd shoot the tyres, or the back seat, or the driver," Shirataki said in the kitchen of her home in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, decorated with a photo of Masako and an Imperial Family calendar.

. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki displays her collection of photographs of royal family members at her home.

But now she has honed her skills, and her house is filled with a huge number of photos.

"Uncountable," she said. "After all, it's been 26 years."

Shirataki won't reveal how she and her fan friends figure out the royal schedules. But once she has the details, she loads a backpack, takes a collapsible chair and a rice ball to eat, and heads out.

. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Left: Shirataki, her friends and well-wishers take photos of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
Right: Empress Michiko waves to well-wishers from a vehicle.

"They know our faces by now, so when we raise the cameras I guess they think 'here they are' and they face towards us and wave," said Shirataki, who always wears sneakers and trousers for ease of movement while she's on the hunt.

Shirataki and her fellow chasers, nearly all of whom are female, say their main focus is the royal women and their clothes. Because of time constraints - she works part time at a car dealership - she concentrates on the empress and empress-to-be.

. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki burns an incense stick at the shrine of her late husband at her home.

"When my husband was still alive and earning, I'd spend five or six days a week at this, but now I have to work," she said. The photo in the Buddhist altar for her husband, who died two years ago, is smaller than a picture of Masako displayed nearby.

Though she's cagey about how much her hobby costs, she spends at least 50,000 yen ($447) annually just on photos.

. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki and her friends photograph Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko at Tokyo Station.

Shirataki says Masako is her favourite and has even appeared in her dreams. But Shirataki worries how she will fare as empress after the stress-related illness that kept her out of the public eye for many years.

"There could be a lot of times where Masako won't go with the emperor," she said. "If it's just him, we won't go. Her alone? Yes."

. Hayama Town, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato
Shirataki shakes hands with Empress Michiko near an imperial villa where Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are staying for their recuperation.

Shirataki may already have reached the pinnacle of okkake success: this year, she shook hands with the empress.

"I've talked with them briefly before but that's the only time I'd ever been able to put out my hand ... I didn't realize I would do it."

"When I asked, she just said, in a small voice, 'If my hand is okay,'" she added. "And then I did."

1 / 10

Slideshow

Shirataki, her friends and well-wishers wait for arrival of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at Kodomonokuni.
. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki, her friends and well-wishers wait for arrival of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at Kodomonokuni.

Shirataki is seen through the window of the car driving Emperor Akihito at Kodomonokuni.
. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki is seen through the window of the car driving Emperor Akihito at Kodomonokuni.

Well-wishers wave to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko as they visit Kodomonokuni.
. Yokohama, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Well-wishers wave to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko as they visit Kodomonokuni.

Shirataki and her friends rush to secure their photo position before arrival of Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko, at Tokyo Station.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki and her friends rush to secure their photo position before arrival of Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko, at Tokyo Station.

Shirataki travels to the site where a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's enthronement will be held.
. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki travels to the site where a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's enthronement will be held.

Shirataki arrives to a place where the motorcade carrying Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will be passing.
. Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki arrives to a place where the motorcade carrying Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will be passing.

Shirataki selects her photographs for printing.
. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki selects her photographs for printing.

Shirataki shops for groceries.
. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki shops for groceries.

Shirataki prepares her dinner.
. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki prepares her dinner.

Shirataki enjoys gardening.
. Kawasaki, Japan. Reuters/Issei Kato

Shirataki enjoys gardening.