SAO PAULO (AP) — Princess Kako of Akishino, a niece of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, was honored with the highest order of Brazil’s influential state of Sao Paulo on Friday as she embarked on an 11-day visit to the South American nation. This trip also commemorates the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.
Princess Kako, the younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, arrived in Sao Paulo on Thursday. She had meetings with members of the Japanese community on Friday and concluded her activities with a dinner hosted by Governor Tarcisio de Freitas at the state government palace, where she was presented with the Order of the Ipiranga in a private ceremony.
During her visit, Princess Kako will travel to seven more cities, including Rio de Janeiro and the capital Brasilia, where she is scheduled to meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In a conversation with Governor de Freitas, she acknowledged the history of Japanese immigrants who arrived in Santos in 1908 and expressed admiration for their resilience and contributions to Brazilian society.
Recognizing the significant Japanese-Brazilian community, Princess Kako highlighted the enduring connections between the two countries. Brazil currently boasts the largest population of people of Japanese descent worldwide, with approximately 2.7 million individuals, half of whom reside in Sao Paulo state.
As Emperor Naruhito has no sons, his brother Akishino, Princess Kako’s father, is next in line to the throne according to Japan’s tradition that does not permit female succession. Princess Mako, Princess Kako’s elder sister, was the last member of the Japanese imperial family to visit Brazil in 2018, touring 13 cities across the nation.
