This is the 3rd official overseas visit for the princess, who is the eldest daughter of Prince and Princess Akishino. She is also the first grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
A commercial plane carrying the princess left Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Wednesday morning for Singapore, a transit destination.
During her 9-day trip through Thursday next week, the princess will attend a welcome ceremony in the capital Thimphu on Friday. She will also deliver a speech at the Japan Week there, expressing hope for deeper bilateral friendship.
On Sunday, the princess will attend the opening ceremony of a flower expo that began 2 years ago at the initiative of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
She is also expected to make a goodwill visit to the western town of Paro and meet local farmers.
It has recently become known that the princess is getting engaged to a man she met at university. The Imperial Household Agency is planning to officially announce the engagement this summer.
Source and image: NHK
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