Princess Aiko to Visit Okinawa for 1st Time from Wed.

   Tokyo, June 2 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Princess Aiko will make her first-ever visit to Okinawa Prefecture for two days from Wednesday to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, accompanying her parents, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
   The family's visit to the southernmost prefecture reflects the Imperial couple's wish that memories of the war be passed onto the next generation, according to a close aide.
   It is the Imperial couple's second trip this year to mourn those killed in the war eight decades ago, following a visit to the Pacific island of Ioto, widely known as Iwo Jima, in April.
   In July 1975, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, then Crown Prince and Crown Princess, made their first visit to Okinawa to attend the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition.
   Despite an incident in which an extremist threw a firebomb at them near a monument commemorating the Himeyuri corps of female students, the then Crown Prince released a statement saying he would continue to care for the region.

(2025/06/02-19:53)