Japan's imperial couple, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Honolulu yesterday from their 11-day visit to Canada. Their visit to Canada was to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan. Their 3-day official visit to Hawaii began with a highly unusual public outing to Kapiolani Park in Waikiki to visit the "Rainbow Shower Tree" Akihito planted in 1960.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are here to celebrate the couple's 50th wedding anniversay and to strengthen Japan's relations with the United States as goodwill and to pay tribute to American Veterans (those at Puncbowl Cemetary) who died fighting against Japan in WWII. Unlike his father, Hirohito, Akihito and his wife are much more "the people's people", where it is not uncommon for the married couple to engage in conversation amongst common people. Their groundbreaking wedding in 1959 became highly publicized as Akihito married Michiko Shoda, the first commoner to marry an heir to the Japanese throne. And with this, the couple has changed the image of the royal family, bringing the royal family closer to "the people".
Today, Akihito and Michiko attended a wreath laying ceremony at The National Cemetary of The Pacific, a luncheon with the Governor, then a formal dinner with 1000 invited guests, marking the 50th Anniversay of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship, which promotes a better understanding of the US and Japan by offering scholarships to students.
(Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko's wedding day in 1959)
Thursday the royal couple will travel to Hilo before traveling back to Japan for a "paniolos" show at Parker Ranch, on the slopes of Mauana Kea volcano, one of the nation's largest and oldest ranches.
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