Princess visits Nikkei Place

By Dan Hilborn
Published June 12, 2004



Her Imperial Highness Princess Hisako Takamado of Japan was in Burnaby on Tuesday afternoon, helping to celebrate 75 years of official diplomatic relations between the two nations, and to unveil a painting at the National Nikkei Heritage Centre.

"We were honoured to have her visit us," said Mits Hayashi, immediate past president of the Japanese-Canadian cultural centre and museum located in South Burnaby.

"She spent almost two hours at Nikkei Place, meeting with representatives from a cross section of the community and visiting the museum," Hayashi said. "It was considered one of the highlights of her visit to Vancouver."

The princess was accompanied on her visit by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. The stop was part of her first official visit to Canada since her husband, Prince Takamado, died after suffering a heart attack while playing squash with the Canadian ambassador in 2002.

Her late husband, known in Japan as 'the Canadian prince,' studied at Queen's University in Ontario. The couple met at a function at the Canadian embassy in Tokyo, and had previously visited Canada on six occasions. The princess is the honorary patron of the Canada-Japan Society.

During the most recent visit, the princess unveiled the painting Steadfast, Pacific Ocean an original work by renowned artist Ted Colyer, one of the Japanese royal family's favourite artists.

In a press release, Japanese Consul General Toshiyuki Taga said the visit is important because it strengthens ties between the two countries.

"The visit of Her Imperial Highness to Canada and to Burnaby reflects the importance of the bilateral relationship between our two countries and it celebrates our close and friendly relations," Taga said.

The princess also visited Steveston and Vancouver, and is scheduled to stop in Edmonton, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, and Charlottetown before flying to the United Kingdom, where she graduated from Girton College at the University of Cambridge.