Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko will arrive in Paraguay on Tuesday, August 18, for a nine-day official visit. The couple will remain in the country until August 26, on a trip marking the 90th anniversary of the first Japanese emigration to Paraguayan territory.
At a press conference held last Thursday at the Akasaka East Residence in Tokyo, the Crown Prince and Princess expressed gratitude for the opportunity. For Akishino, this will be his first visit to Paraguay in 20 years, made without Crown Princess Kiko on the previous occasion due to the birth of Prince Hisahito. For Kiko, it will be her debut in the country. The trip also represents the couple's first official overseas mission since December 2024, when they were in Turkey for the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations.
The agenda includes a courtesy audience with President Santiago Peña and participation in the official ceremony commemorating the Japanese settlement. The itinerary includes a trip to La Colmena in the Paraguarí department, considered the first Japanese settlement territory in Paraguay, where they will lay a floral wreath at a monument to the deceased.
Subsequently, they will visit Yguazú in Alto Paraná to inspect a Japanese language school and interact with the local community. During the press conference, the Crown Prince and Princess highlighted respect for immigrants and their descendants, who act as a bridge between the nations and have contributed to the development of Paraguayan agriculture. Crown Princess Kiko added that citizens of both countries maintain exchanges through Paraguayan music and crafts, as well as Japanese manga, anime, and martial arts.
The couple also offered condolences to the victims of the strong earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28. When asked about the recent revised Imperial Household Law, enacted last month to ensure a sufficient number of royal family members—allowing the adoption of male descendants from collateral branches and enabling women to retain their imperial status after marriage—Crown Prince Akishino chose not to comment. "I have several ideas about it, but I prefer not to speak about anything at this moment," he stated.