Japan's Crown Prince Thanks Settlers in Paraguay Anniversary Visit

This week, Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, traveled to Paraguay for a ceremony marking 90 years since Japanese immigration to the country began. At the event near Asunción, the prince spoke warmly about how the first settlers struggled but eventually put down roots. About 650 guests attended, including Paraguay's president, Santiago Peña.

The history goes back to 1936, when 81 people from 11 families arrived from Japan and founded a settlement called La Colmena. Today, the Japanese community in Paraguay numbers around 10,000. The prince said much of the close friendship between Japan and Paraguay exists because of those immigrants and their children. He called on them to keep acting as a bridge between the two nations.

President Peña thanked the Japanese community for its contributions to farming, education, and society. He said those efforts show Paraguay's multicultural identity. Before the ceremony, the royal couple laid flowers at a memorial for settlers who died, and they met community members, including 87-year-old Ikuko Matsumiya, who came from Japan in 1956. She said it was encouraging to see the imperial family come for every milestone.

The prince first visited Paraguay in 2006 for the 70th anniversary. This visit is part of an official tour, and it sends a simple but powerful message: even after nine decades, a small community's sacrifices are remembered and honored. It also highlights how immigration builds lasting connections between countries far apart.