SAO PAULO (AP) — Princess Kako of Akishino, a niece of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, was honored with the highest order of Sao Paulo, a prominent state in Brazil, at the start of her 11-day visit to the South American country. This trip coincides with 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.
During her visit, Princess Kako had meetings with members of the Japanese community and concluded her schedule 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. Her itinerary includes visits to seven other cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, where she is expected to meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a conversation with Governor de Freitas, Princess Kako acknowledged the significant contributions of the first Japanese immigrants who arrived in Santos in 1908 after a challenging journey by sea. She visited the memorial dedicated to these pioneer immigrants at Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo on the first day of her trip. Princess Kako expressed admiration for how the Japanese community in Brazil has thrived and contributed to various fields, strengthening the ties between the two nations.
Brazil currently boasts the largest population of individuals of Japanese descent in the world, with approximately 2.7 million people, half of whom reside in Sao Paulo state according to official data. As Emperor Naruhito does not have male heirs, his brother Akishino, Princess Kako’s father, is the next in line for succession, in line with Japan’s tradition that restricts female members from ascending to the throne.
Princess Mako, Princess Kako’s older sister, was the most recent member of Japan’s imperial family to visit Brazil, touring 13 cities in the country in 2018.
