Japan's Crown Prince honors 90 years of Japanese settlement in Paraguay

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito has credited the nation's decade-long relationship with Paraguay to the contributions of Japanese immigrants and their descendants, urging them to continue serving as a diplomatic bridge between the two countries.

The crown prince addressed Paraguay's 10,000-strong Japanese community during ceremonies marking 90 years since the first settlers arrived in the South American nation. He and his wife laid flowers at a memorial for deceased settlers before meeting community members at the event.

First settlers founded La Colmena in 1936

The initial wave of Japanese immigration to Paraguay began when 81 people from 11 families departed Japan and established a settlement in La Colmena, located in the country's south-central region, in 1936.

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña thanked the Japanese community for contributions spanning agriculture, education and broader society, describing these as evidence of Paraguay's multicultural character.

Community elder recalls imperial visits

Ikuko Matsumiya, 87, who emigrated from Tochigi prefecture in 1956, told the royal couple at a hotel gathering that regular visits from Japan's imperial family at significant anniversaries provide encouragement to the diaspora. The crown prince previously travelled to Paraguay in 2006 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Japanese immigration.

The visit underscores Japan's continued engagement with its overseas communities in Latin America, where Japanese descendants have integrated into local economies and cultural life while maintaining ties to their ancestral homeland.

Source: South China Morning Post