The Japanese imperial family was present at an important cultural event. Princesses Kiko and Kako, mother and daughter, were at the Earth Garden of Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, located in the Chiyoda neighborhood of Tokyo, last Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The occasion was a visit to the “SMBC Group Award”, a section of the “Heralbony Art Award 2026” exhibition.
On the same date, royals, Princess Kiko and her daughter, Princess Kako, attended the Terra Garden of Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, in the Japanese capital. The main objective of the visit was to explore the “Heralbony Art Prize 2026”, an exhibition that celebrates and displays works created by artists with intellectual disabilities, from different parts of the planet.
This prestigious Heralbony Art Prize represents an international open call exhibition promoted by the Morioka-based organization Heralbony. The initiative stands out for its commitment to giving visibility to artists with intellectual disabilities, a crucial effort for the inclusion and recognition of often marginalized talents. In the current edition, the event received an impressive number of 2,943 entries, from 77 nations and territories, resulting in the selection and exhibition of 62 works, including those awarded the prize.
During the visit, both Princess Kiko and Princess Kako paid meticulous attention to each work on display. Among the pieces, they examined with particular interest the award-winning work of Dutch artist Kaa Han Muy. According to reports from the exhibition guide, the princesses expressed genuine curiosity, inquiring about the lives and profiles of the creators, which reveals a deep interest that goes beyond the aesthetics of the works, seeking to understand the artist’s mind and journey.
For the event, princesses Kiko and Kako opted for outfits (skirts and dresses) selected from Heralbony’s own catalog. The choice of outfits was made together, by browsing the company’s website. After appreciating the collection, they expressed their enthusiasm to the organizers, stating that “there were so many wonderful pieces and we really loved it”, reinforcing the positive impact of the exhibition.