Royal Couple Attends Meeting of Japanese Descendants Abroad

June 7, 2018

Honolulu- Visiting Japanese Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, attended the opening ceremony of the 59th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Wednesday.

Some 300 people, mainly those of Japanese descent, from Japan, the United States, Brazil and other countries, attended the convention.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the immigration of some 150 Japanese people to Hawaii. Many people of Japanese ancestry live in the U.S. island state.

"It is gratifying and reassuring that Nikkei descendants have made tireless efforts in laying the foundations of Nikkei communities, and have been dedicated to outstanding service in many fields, which has earned tremendous trust from the society," Prince Akishino said in Japanese. Nikkei means people of Japanese ancestry in Japanese.

The prince, the second son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, and the princess were on an official trip to Hawaii.

The convention started in 1957 to deepen relations among Japanese descendants living outside Japan.

The latest convention marked the third one held outside Japan, following the previous one hosted by Sao Paulo in 2007.

Hawaii last hosted the convention in 1968, commemorating the centennial of Japanese immigration to the island state. Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Hanako, attended the convention 50 years ago. Jiji Press