Japan crown prince, princess head to Paraguay to fortify ties with diaspora

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko embarked on a significant official visit to Paraguay on Tuesday. The purpose of their trip was to commemorate 90 years of Japanese immigration to the South American nation and to bolster relations with the local diaspora community. The imperial family is known for regularly making visits during milestone anniversaries to meet descendants of Japanese immigrants.

During a press conference prior to their first visit to Paraguay in two decades, Crown Prince Fumihito expressed his eagerness to hear the stories of these descendants. Paraguay is currently home to approximately 10,000 individuals of Japanese descent. The first group of 81 people from 11 families arrived in Paraguay from Japan in 1936, establishing a new settlement in La Colmena, located in the south-central region of the country.

Following a period of immigration restrictions imposed by neighboring Brazil in 1934, the number of Japanese settlements in Paraguay increased during the postwar period. These settlers cleared virgin forests, established Japanese-language schools, and placed great importance on education. They introduced soybean cultivation methods tailored to the local climate and propagated these practices throughout Paraguay, making soybeans one of the country's major export commodities.

The role of Japanese immigrants and their descendants in Paraguay's agricultural sector was significant. Beginning with visits by Former Emperor Akihito and Former Empress Michiko in 1978, the imperial family has regularly made trips to Paraguay, including those led by Crown Prince Fumihito in 2006 and his daughter, former Princess Mako, in 2016. During their upcoming visit, the prince and princess will lay flowers at a memorial dedicated to Japanese descendants who lost their lives during the settlement period.

Crown Prince Fumihito emphasized the immense contributions made by Japanese immigrants and their descendants in fostering strong relations between Japan and Paraguay.