Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Second Day in Japan: Train Excursion, Royal Recycling and More

Grand Duke Henri and Princess Alexandra are currently in Japan for an official three day visit - and it looks like the grand ducal couple's only daughter is taking to the state visiting business like a fish to water. She and Empress Michiko seem to be having a blast at their joined events. Moreover, Princess Alexandra is also a pro at the whole royal recycling thing, as proven by yet another clothes sharing moment today. I'm inclined to petition to have Alexandra show up at all the state visits in the future.
Photo: SIP
On the second day of the visit, the Luxembourgish guests and their hosts, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, hopped on not any but the imperial train to head to the Ibaraki Prefecture where they visited the cities of Tsukuba and Tsuchiura. They were accompanied by the Minister of the Economy Etienne Schneider and the Minister of Finance Pierre Gramegna and cheerfully welcomed by the crowds. 
Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu
The Grand Duke and Princess Alexandra as well as the Emperor and Empress greeted the local population in place of the Town Hall in Tsuchiura, in the presence of Tsuchiura Municipal Assembly President Yaguchi Kiyoshi, and the Mayor of Tsuchiura City, Nakagawa Kiyoshi. They also saw a musical performance in their honour. Subsequently, the the Luxembourgish delegation and their hosts took part in a private luncheon. 
Photo: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / SIP
Afterwards the day's agenda continued with a visit to the Tsukuba Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The official delegation was welcomed by Toshiei Mizuochi, Minister of State for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, by the Director General of the JAXA Research and Development Directorate, Ryouichi Imai, by Tsukuba Mayor Tatsuo Igarashi, and Tsukuba Municipal Assembly President Shiota Hisashi, in the presence of JAXA President Naoki Okumura. In the Space Dome showroom, Professor Kuninaka Hitoshi provided explanations for the Hayabusa spacecraft and the Hayabusa 2 return capsule with asteroid samples on board. Information about the Japanese Experimental Kibo module of the International Space Station (ISS) was provided by Professor and Astronaut Wakata Koichi.
Photo: SIP / Charles Caratini
After the return to Tokyo in the afternoon, the Grand Duke held an official meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The day was rounded off with a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Abe in honour of the Grand Duke and also attended by Princess Alexandra. 

For more pictures of the day, check out the cour, the government, Tageblatt and Wort.

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