Japan Princess hails “Anne of Green Gables” author in Canada

August 29, 2019

Prince Edward Island, Canada--Japanese Princess Hisako of Takamado on Wednesday attended a ceremony in Canada to mark the opening of a park commemorating Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942).

In the ceremony, a life-size statue of the author of "Anne of Green Gables," a world best seller also loved in Japan, was unveiled. The park sits on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada, where the novel is set and the author was born and raised.

Among the participants were Princess Hisako, the widow of the late Prince Takamado, a cousin of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and granddaughters of the late Hanako Muraoka, the first Japanese translator of the novel, Mie and Eri.

In a speech at the ceremony, the princess said that universal appeal of the novel has transcended the borders of culture and language.

"Today when the world is subject to so much divisiveness, this homage to Lucy Maud Montgomery is most timely and relevant," the princess said.

With the statue as the starting point, a route was established to tour around related locations such as the site of a house where Montgomery grew up and places that appear in the novel.

A ceremony-related official expressed hopes that visitors will follow the paths of Montgomery in the environment that provided inspirations for her works. Jiji Press