Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko are scheduled to visit Paraguay in mid-August to lead commemorations for the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration, according to a report by ABC Color citing the Japanese news agency Jiji Press.
The prince, who is first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, will meet with President Santiago Peña during the week-long stay. The visit underscores the deep historical and cultural bonds between the two nations, which began with the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in 1936.
Approximately 10,000 Japanese immigrants and their descendants currently reside in Paraguay, maintaining strong ties to their ancestral homeland. The royal couple is expected to participate in a ceremony honoring the early settlers and hold gatherings with the Nikkei community.
This is not the prince's first visit to Paraguay; he previously traveled there in November 2006 for the 70th anniversary. His father, then-Crown Prince Akihito, also visited in 1978, reflecting a tradition of imperial engagement with Paraguay's Japanese diaspora.