Princess Kako of Japan is expected to visit Corfu at the end of the month, as part of her official visit to the country, from May 25th to June 1st. The reason for her visit to our island is none other than the Museum of Asian Art, which houses one of the most important collections of Japanese art in Europe.
The visit of the youngest daughter of Prince Akishino, heir to the Japanese throne and brother of Emperor Naruhito, is taking place following an invitation from Greece, as part of the Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism 2024 and the 125th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation Treaty, which marked the beginning of the official relations between the two countries.
Princess Kako is expected to arrive in Corfu on Wednesday, May 29th, and will visit the Museum of Asian Art and the Orphanage during her stay. Moreover, a few days ago, the new Ambassador of Japan to Greece, Ito Koichi, visited Corfu and met with both the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Yiannis Trepeklis, and the Mayor of Central Corfu, Stefanos Poulimenos, where they discussed the planned visit of the Princess to Corfu and the events that will take place at the Museum of Asian Art.
Mr. Koichi is also expected to accompany her to Corfu, while a multitude of accredited Japanese journalists will be here to cover her visit. According to the municipal authorities, on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 29th, the princess will visit the Orphanage, while in the afternoon of the same day, she will be received at the historic San Giacomo Old Town Hall by the Mayor of Central Corfu and the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands. According to the schedule, the princess will walk through the historic centre to the Old Fortress, without making any statements throughout her 70-minute stroll. The next day, Thursday, May 30th, the princess will visit the Museum of Asian Art, where events will take place.
The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefaloyianni, will also be in Corfu on May 28th and 29th, dealing with matters within her jurisdiction.
Meeting with President of Greece
According to greecejapan.com, Princess Kako's schedule in Athens includes a meeting with the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. She will also attend a ceremony for the celebration of the Greece-Japan Year of Culture and Tourism and the 125th anniversary, and she will have a luncheon with the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni.
According to the schedule, Princess Kako will meet with Greeks who have been honoured by the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government, members of the Japanese community, as well as Greek graduates of Japanese universities. She will also visit a national facility for people with hearing impairments (Princess Kako is fluent in sign language) and the Panhellenic Judo Association.
During her stay in Athens, she will visit the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, the Panathenaic Stadium, and the Holy Monastery of Faneromeni Salamina. The frescoes of the monastery's church are a significant example of 18th-century painting, and their restoration has been completed with funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan. It is noted that Princess Kako's visit is the first she has made to Greece and the third abroad, aiming to promote international friendship.
