Princess Kako addresses Brazil's Congress, meets with Lula in presidential palace
BRASILIA, Brazil--Japan's Princess Kako, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, was welcomed on Wednesday by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for a private ceremony on the latest leg of her 11-day tour of the South American nation.
The younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko also addressed Congress and thanked Brazilians for hosting Japanese immigrants for more than a century. Her trip, which started on June 5, marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
'The efforts of the Japanese who came, and the Brazilians who went to Japan, are deepening our bilateral relationship of friendship," Kako told Brazilian lawmakers. 'I hope that the relationship between the two countries is a long lasting one.'
Congress speaker Hugo Motta told the princess he hopes Brazil's ethanol 'can help Japan reduce its dependency on fossil fuels.'
Brazil has the largest population of people of Japanese descent in the world, estimated at about 2.7 million. About half of those live in Sao Paulo state, official figures show, where the princess last week received the state's highest honor from Governor Tarcisio de Freitas.
Emperor Naruhito has no male children, which makes his brother Fumihito, Princess Kako's father, the first successor in line. Japan's tradition does not allow women to take the throne.
Princess Kako will arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, where she will visit the Christ the Redeemer statue and a museum of Japanese immigration. The last part of her trip will take place in the city of Foz do Iguacu, where the world famous Iguacu falls are located.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Japan draws up 100 bil. yen policy to attract foreign researchers
KYODO NEWS - 10 hours ago - 16:20 | All, Japan The Japanese government unveiled on Friday a 100 billion yen ($700 million) policy package designed to attract foreign researchers, some of whom may have joined the exodus of talent from the United States due to research funding cuts. The measures aim to create an elite research environment in Japan, as competition to lure talent intensifies globally in fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The government also plans to use profits generated from a 10 trillion yen investment fund set up by the state to help universities produce internationally competitive research. "We will make utmost efforts to make our country the most attractive in the world for researchers," said science and technology policy minister Minoru Kiuchi at a press conference. Many researchers have departed the United States as President Donald Trump's administration has pushed elite universities to prioritize American students over those from other countries and slashed federal funding for many programs. Japan's new policy package will fund many existing programs, including a plan by Tohoku University to spend around 30 billion yen to recruit about 500 researchers from Japan and abroad. An education ministry project in which hubs will be created to promote top-level research is also included. The government aims to raise salaries for researchers and reduce their administrative burden, allowing them to concentrate on their work. It also seeks to acquire advanced technology for use at institutions. Kiuchi said the government will consider additional measures to retain researchers after bringing them in from abroad. Despite the government's recent efforts to promote science and technology research, an education ministry institute said that last year Japan remained ranked at a record-low 13th place in the number of highly cited scientific papers. Related coverage: Japan calls on colleges to accept students in U.S. after Harvard ban Univ. of Tokyo mulls accepting Harvard foreign students if barred Defense tech subsidies for Japan universities totaled 2.7 bil. yen
Kyodo News
4 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 13, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 23:00 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan hopes for special treatment as Trump hints at auto tariff hike TOKYO - Japan expects to be treated differently to other countries once it clinches a deal with the United States on tariffs, Tokyo's top negotiator said Friday, after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a further rise in import levies on cars. "Once bilateral negotiations are finalized, I think Japan will be given special treatment separate from the rule that applies to most countries," Ryosei Akazawa said at Tokyo's Haneda airport prior to his departure for the United States for the sixth round of ministerial-level tariff negotiations. ---------- Over 260 dead in Air India plane crash: reports NEW DELHI - The total number of people killed when a London-bound Air India plane crashed into a residential area in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad has passed 260, local media reported Friday. A day after the crash, which killed 241 passengers and crew aboard, it was confirmed that one passenger had survived. ---------- Ishiba, Trump likely to speak by phone Fri. night: source TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to speak over the telephone on Friday night, a Japanese government source said. The phone call would come before Japan's top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is slated to hold another round of tariff talks with U.S. officials in Washington. ---------- Japan sets 1% wage growth target to spur economy in new policy plan TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday approved a policy blueprint focused on wage hikes, setting a target of approximately 1 percent real pay growth annually over a five-year period to encourage consumer spending and sustain economic growth. The latest economic and fiscal policy plan, endorsed by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet, outlined a goal of raising Japan's gross domestic product to 1,000 trillion yen ($7 trillion) by around 2040, up from its current level of 600 trillion yen. ---------- China blaming Japan for close air encounters "unacceptable": defense chief TOKYO - Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Friday it is "unacceptable" that China has blamed Japan for close encounters between Chinese fighter jets and Japanese defense patrol planes over the high seas in the Pacific last weekend. Nakatani's remarks at a press conference came a day after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Japanese side "came close and spied on China's normal military activities," demanding Japan stop such "dangerous actions." ---------- Japan condemns Israel's attack on Iran for "escalating situation" TOKYO - Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday that Japan "strongly condemns" Israel's attack on nuclear and military sites in Iran for "escalating the situation," while pledging necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent a further deterioration. Iwaya told a press conference that it is "extremely regrettable" that Israel took military action despite continuing talks between Washington and Tehran toward a peaceful resolution, demanding that all parties should exercise "utmost restraint." ---------- Japan to ban reselling of rice as cheap stockpiles hit shelves TOKYO - The government decided on Friday to prohibit the reselling of rice purchased at retail shops to ensure that rice reserves recently released at lower prices will stably reach consumers. Under the ban, which will take effect June 23, those who sell rice at a higher price than they paid at supermarkets and online shops will face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 1 million yen ($6,960), or both. ---------- Japan parliament OKs pension reform law to ensure more contributions TOKYO - Japan's parliament on Friday enacted a pension reform law that will scrap a 1.06 million yen ($7,400) annual income threshold blamed for prompting part-timers to limit their work hours, while opening the way for a future boost to basic pension benefits. The enactment came as a result of a last-minute compromise by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads a minority government, as the ruling coalition decided to accept a demand by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, a major opposition force, to include a pledge to consider boosting the basic pension benefits in the future. Video: Canadian icebreaker Sir Wilfrid Laurier makes special port call during Osaka Expo
Kyodo News
4 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Japan PM Ishiba says to meet Trump on G7 fringes
KYODO NEWS - 9 minutes ago - 23:49 | All, Japan, World Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to meet in Canada on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit next week. Ahead of another round of ministerial-level tariff talks in Washington, Ishiba told reporters after a 20-minute phone call with Trump that Japan's stance of urging the United States to eliminate higher tariffs on Japanese products remains unchanged. Ishiba also said he and Trump shared the view that peace and stability in the Middle East are important, following a spike in tensions after Israel's attack on Iran. "We confirmed that we will further deepen our discussions on bilateral cooperation when we meet next week on the occasion of the G7" summit, Ishiba said, adding that no specific date has been set. The two leaders agreed on the need to accelerate ministerial negotiations to reach "a deal that will be beneficial to both Japan and the United States," Ishiba said. Japan's chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, known as a close aide to Ishiba, is expected to hold talks with senior U.S. officials later this week, ahead of a two-day G7 meeting from Monday in Canada's Kananaskis. Tokyo has been calling on Washington to reconsider its tariff policy targeting imports ranging from cars and auto parts to steel and aluminum. It was the third telephone conversation between Ishiba and Trump in roughly a month, with the previous one on May 29. Ishiba, meanwhile, said he extended birthday wishes to Trump, whose birthday falls on Saturday, during the phone call requested by Japan. Related coverage: Japan hopes for special treatment as Trump hints at auto tariff hike Trump says U.S. Steel controlled by him with "golden share" Japan PM hopes for progress in U.S. tariff talks, in no rush for deal
