Night time, street

Fx:  Voice and music

tram, clock, woman

on train, people waiting for train

Jill Kogan:  While the rest of Tokyo sleeps, 31 year old Harumi Nishikawa is winding her way through the city's underground.

00.21

The first train for the day - she was up at 4 a.m. to catch it.  But then Harumi is a woman, obsessed.

Harumi:  When I look at the faces of the Royal family, I feel rejuvenated and I can face the day.  That's why I began taking photos.

Sunrise, palace, people marching, looking at album

Jill Kogan:  This is where she's headed - the Imperial Palace.

00.58

It's serious business this royal watching.

People have queued since the night before - and it takes military precision to keep them from breaking ranks as the jostling starts for the best vantage points.

I find tagging along with Harumi is a good move - she's an experienced campaigner who won't take anything less than pole position.  While we wait, she and the other groupies compare trophies.

Harumi:  Isn't she beautiful.  This is Princess Masako's birthday.  Oh, I understand, it's at the palace.

Fx:  Crowd roar

Flags waving, royal family waving, photographers

Jill Kogan:  Then the stars come out - a rare glimpse of Emperor Akihito, flanked by his Empress and family.

01.36

In this sea of loyal fans, none are more crazy about the Japanese monarchy than the royal groupies.

Harumi will stand here all day, through seven royal appearances - neither eating nor drinking in case she has to leave her position to go to the toilet.

01.53

Along with most of Japan, she's been smitten by Crown Princess Masako, the darling of the royal watchers.

Royalty riding

Music

in convertible

Jill Kogan:  The beautiful, accomplished diplomats daughter has bewitched the nation since she married the Japanese heir to the throne.  The glamour of the young couple and talk of a royal baby has fans enthralled.

02.13

Photo albums, interview with

Harumi:  My favourite is Princess Masako.

Harumi,

photographs

Jill Kogan:  Why?

Harumi:  Because she was a career woman and she has a really great personality.

Jill Kogan:  She's quite an accomplished photographer and so she should be, her photo collection is big enough to wall paper the house.

02.42

Harumi:  I have 5 to 6 hundred albums and there are 5 or 6 thousand photos.  Counting the cost of the photos, travel, lunches, etc, I've spent four million yen.

Jill Kogan:  That's more than forty thousand dollars.

03.12

Harumi going through box of albums

Harumi's passion had made her a local celebrity as a famous groupie, she even gets her own fan mail.

Harumi running through crowd, to train, royalty on train,

Another day, another photo call not to be missed and Harumi sets a cracking pace across town to Tokyo station.

photographers

Many of the diehards are already there - they know the royal itinerary like their train time tables.  This time it's a short trip to the country.

Harumi:  I feel as if she's a friend that I've known since childhood.

Harumi running on street, royalty driving away, Harumi showing photos

Jill Kogan:  Even on a freezing winter's morning, this devoted paparazzi will turn out to watch the Crown Princess, simply leave the house.  And they are there when she returns, hours later.

04.13

Harumi:  I would like to say to them.  Please take care of your health and thank you very much for opening your car window to us.

Jill Kogan:  And when does she think she'll hang up her Minolta?

04.47

Harumi:  Well, when I die.  Only when I'm so sick, I see death around the corner.

Jill Kogan:  That's devotion.

04.59

ENDS

05.03