Princess Kako attended a national high school equestrian competition in central Japan on July 25.

Local officials welcomed her at the venue in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture.

A total of 184 students from 36 high schools were entered in the contest.

This is the sixth time for Kako to attend the national competition.

She gave words of encouragement to the participants at the opening ceremony.

Princess Kako / I am cheering you on so that you can fully demonstrate the fruits of your accumulated efforts to communicate and become one with the horses.

She watched the competition in the afternoon.

Later in the day Kako visited the Shizuoka Cancer Center.

The princess toured places in the center including the pediatric ward.

She was seen off by children from a nearby nursery school.

Kako is the second daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and a niece of Emperor Naruhito.