Japan’s Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, departed for Brazil on Wednesday to promote ties between the two countries, which mark 130 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, is pictured at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture on June 4, 2025, before leaving for Brazil. (Pool photo)(Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko will arrive in Sao Paulo on Thursday and plans to visit eight cities, including the capital, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro.
During her fourth official overseas visit, the princess will pay a courtesy call on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and attend a commemorative event related to the anniversary, according to the Imperial Household Agency. She will also meet with locals of Japanese descent before returning to Japan on June 17.
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 a growing population.
Emperor Naruhito visited Brazil in 2008 as crown prince to mark the 100th anniversary 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.
Related coverage:
Japan imperial couple, Princess Aiko honor war dead in Okinawa
Japan’s former Princess Mako gives birth to 1st child
Princess Aiko to make 1st official overseas visit in Nov. to Laos