Prince William will arrive in Japan on Thursday for a four-day visit to promote British interests.
The second in line to the throne, formally known as the Duke of Cambridge, William, 32, will not be accompanied by his wife Kate, who is due to give birth to their second child in April.
William's trip will start with diplomatic, commercial and cultural engagements in Tokyo and Yokohama on Thursday and Friday. Tokyo Gov Yoichi Masuzoe will take him on a tour of venues for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. On Saturday and Sunday, William will head to the disaster-hit Tohoku region. He will visit Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as Ishinomaki and Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture.
After Japan, the prince heads to China where he will officially open a "Festival of Creativity" on March 2 in Shanghai, held as part of Britain's "GREAT" campaign to boost British business.
In both countries, William will also attend engagements in support of his work to combat the illegal wildlife trade and support wildlife conservation.
The prince has a keen personal interest in the subject and since 2005 has been a patron of the Tusk Trust, an organization involved in conservation and environmental projects across Africa.
China is among more than a dozen countries identified by CITES, the international regulatory body for trade in wildlife, as not doing enough to curb trafficking.
© Japan Today/AFP
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FizzBit
Isn't this guy in the middle of a sex scandal with underage girls?
harvey pekar
I'm against needing Royals in this day and age, but at least the British Royals stand for something and champion causes.
The Japanese Royals take pictures in the same creepy room for a century and do nothing more than offer plastic smiles and leave no mark on the world whatsoever.
"William will also attend engagements in support of his work to combat the illegal wildlife trade and support wildlife conservation. The prince has a keen personal interest in the subject and since 2005 has been a patron of the Tusk Trust, an organization involved in conservation and environmental projects across Africa."
Tessa
I wonder if he'll speak Japanese? He apparently charmed China by recording a special message in Mandarin for the lunar new year, ahead of his official visit next month. Nothing for Japan? Aaaaw!
Jimizo
'I'm against needing Royals in this day and age, but at least the British Royals stand for something and champion causes.'
Many people in the UK want to know why the royals are there and what they get for their taxes. Being involved in good causes is a good PR exercise but saving wildlife is a strange one considering the royals seem to take great pleasure in blowing holes in the local wildlife with shotguns in Scotland. Criticism or questioning the need for a monarchy is still very sensitive in Japan and the royals are generally free from criticism but if this were to change, I'm sure the powers that be would have to work harder to make them seem relevant.
mountainpear
And no doubt he will do the obligatory eating of Fukushima produce. Using a 'dashing' foreign prince to convince the locals that everything is all well and good in Fukushima- sneaky, very sneaky!
oikawa
I hope he gets hassled by the cretins from "Why did YOU come to Japan?" and asked if they can follow him around everywhere.
Disillusioned
Woo! He's coming alone? I see another royal sex scandal in the making. Where is he gonna go? Kabuki-cho or Akihabara? Hmmmm?
Jason Campbell
Complete and total waste of both time and resources.
tinawatanabe
His visit will help improve ties of the two countries UK and Japan.
smithinjapan
But only if he 'appreciates Japan's unique culture' and doesn't want to go shopping, right?
I hope he has a good visit and both he and Japan benefit from it, I just pray they don't say, "Here, eat some Fukushima produce to prove it's good!" and "what do you like best about us?" by Kojima in his speedo or something, and tell him how he should think of Japan and behave, etc.
Tessa
Don't worry, all they'll be focusing on is his hairline!
Haruto
Tessa....At least it is natural, unlike other visitors.
Jimizo
'Tessa....At least it is natural, unlike other visitors.'
If he had a hair transplant or bought an expensive wig on taxpayers' money, there would be hell toupee.
itsonlyrocknroll
The Duke of Cambridge visit is at the request of Her Majesty's Government. The visit will primarily focus on enhancing future UK-Japan relations, there will also be a delegation presenting UK commercial interests and cultural exchange. The diplomatic value can't be underestimated. The Prince will also highlight The Great Britain Campaign, to promote over 500 of Britain's most innovative new business.
Wc626
Hmm, doesn't sound too important if he aint meeting with anyone higher than "Tochiji" in order to promote the UK's interests.
Bill Adams
While some may consider royal families rather anachronistic nowadays, the British royals cost the country very little and are excellent at promoting the UK. On top of this, they do lots of work promoting innumerable good causes, and bring happiness to people - often in distress (such as in hospitals) - in daily visits up and down the country. Overall, I believe they are very good value for money. The alternative - presumably an elected president - would be appalling.
Jimizo
'The alternative - presumably an elected president - would be appalling.'
What's appalling about people living in a democracy choosing their own head of state? I was going to use the word 'citizen' but people living in the UK are still referred to as 'subjects'. I find the word 'subject' an appalling way to refer to people in the 21st century.
Hide Suzuki
You guys are whining about Japan as usual because Prince William is coming here ? Is there ever any news that makes you happy ? ROFL
turbotsat
Hope he wears a dust mask up there. What's half-life on the core dust expelled by Fukushima?
albaleo
@Jimizo
"I was going to use the word 'citizen' but people living in the UK are still referred to as 'subjects'."
I don't think so. My passport says I am a British citizen. Since 1981, almost no one is described as a British subject.
cleo
What could possibly be more appalling than a clan of inbred 'elite' brought up to think they're better than the people they supposedly represent? A clan who apparently are deemed to 'deserve' their job (even when they don't even fill the shoes intended for them until they're well past retirement age, and spend most of their lives instead filling time and living off taxes) simply on account of who their Mum is.
I don't think politics should be brought into it, though. No more money wasted on elections. Have a lottery once every five or ten years, to choose a pensioner from the general public to represent us.
Moderator
All readers back on topic please. Posts that do not focus on William's trip to Japan and China will be removed. And the word "inbred" is offensive and has no place in this discussion.
GW
Harvey,
Haha maybe William can free of few J-royals, especially Masako-san from their cages!
Ian Esumi Butters
Im English and Go to Japan so many times, I think this will be a great opertunity to continue our relations and support of each country, William is the best person for the job and im happy his wife joining him.
ReformedBasher
Think you should check your "facts". Try looking at the Queens annual income first.
I have nothing against the English (how do the Scots, Welsh, etc feel about them?) royal family. But the playboy prince (Harry?) needs to be sent to bed without supper.
And yet, it seems everyone on JT is ecstatic about them. I've never seen such glowing admiration for the Japaneseroyal family on this site before.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/crown-prince-warns-of-need-to-remember-world-war-ii-correctly
When it suits their purposes.
Princess Masako and Princess Dianna, you should read up on them. Or ask somebody who can read to do it aloud for you.
lucabrasi
@Basher
They're hardly English... depending on which bit of history you look at, they're Scots or German. Or even Greek....
Moderator
Back on topic please.