KYODO NEWS


 

Japan's Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, will travel to Brazil in early June to promote ties between the two countries that this year mark 130 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.

The younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko is expected to visit the capital Brasilia, and pay a courtesy call to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It will be her fourth official overseas visit.

During her trip, which will last for about two weeks, Princess Kako also plans to attend a commemorative event related to the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as meet locals of Japanese descent.

The visit comes after an official invitation from the Brazilian government in late February.

Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, with about 2.7 million people of Japanese descent living there, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The first group of Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil in 1908 under a government policy at the time to encourage emigration in the wake of an economic downturn and growing population.

Emperor Naruhito traveled to Brazil in 2008 when he was crown prince to mark the 100th anniversary year of Japanese emigration to the South American country. The princess's older sister Mako Komuro also traveled to Brazil in 2018 for the 110th anniversary.

In 2015, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko visited Brazil for the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
Japan will host Lula as a state guest later this month.