Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko Meet Scholarship Student in Hawaii

June 6, 2018

Honolulu- Visiting Japanese Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, on Tuesday met with a student on a scholarship from a foundation established nearly 60 years ago to commemorate the marriage of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and their visit to Hawaii.

Prince Akishino, the second son of the Emperor and the Empress, encouraged the student, who expressed gratitude for the scholarship, to study hard.

Earlier in the day, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, now on an official trip to Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, visited the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, which relates the history of Japanese immigrants to the U.S. state.

They viewed exhibits related to the lives of Japanese-Americans in Hawaii and an internment camp for people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The couple also watched a "wadaiko" Japanese drum performance by local children.

Later, the couple visited the Honolulu Museum of Art and attended a luncheon hosted by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

"We were deeply impressed by the tremendous sacrifices and great contributions of these (Japanese) immigrants and...of their descendants, toward the development and prosperity of Hawaii, and the strengthening of the friendship between Japan and the United States," Prince Akishino said in a speech.

In the evening, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko had dinner with Hawaii Governor David Ige and his wife, Dawn Amano-Ige, at the governor's official residence.

"We know the relationship between Hawaii and Japan goes beyond business. It goes beyond friendship," Ige said, referring to his grandparents, who were Japanese immigrants. "We are family."

"I wish to extend my deepest respect for the tireless efforts and great achievements of the Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans in Hawaii," Prince Akishino said, while expressing concern for people affected by the recent eruptions of Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii.Jiji Press