Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko are planning to make an official visit to Hawaii in June to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to the country, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.
During a trip that will last about one week, the prince, the younger son of Emperor Akihito, is expected to deliver a speech at a ceremony on June 7 to mark the arrival of the first group of Japanese immigrants in 1868.
On June 6, the couple is set to attend an event to be organized by the Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad, a Yokohama-based organization connecting people of Japanese descent abroad with Japan.
The prince and the princess are expected to interact with people of Japanese descent in Hawaii as they did during their visit to Brazil in 2015 and in Chile from late September to early October last year.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have placed great importance on exchanges with people of Japanese descent living overseas and their activities have already been taken over by Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino.
Emperor Akihito will abdicate on April 30, 2019, and the crown prince will succeed the Chrysanthemum throne the next day while Prince Akishino will become "koshi," or first in line to the throne.
The abdication comes after the 84-year-old emperor signaled his wish to step down, citing his advanced age and weakening health.
