Japan's crown prince taking on more duties

TOKYO, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan says he is taking on more official duties to ease the burden of his 75-year-old father, Emperor Arkhito.

While accepting new duties, the crown prince said he will continue to work, as he has for years, to address issues of sanitation and clean water both at home and abroad, Kyodo news reported Monday.

"I believe that resolving water problems will help to alleviate poverty and bring an end to regional conflicts over water resources, eventually leading to world peace," said the crown prince, 49, who serves as honorary president of the U.N. secretary general's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.

On other matters, Naruhito said his wife, Crown Princess Masako, 45, continued to improve from a disorder related to stress while their 7-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, was learning to jump rope and had just learned to perform a move known as a "double-under."