image: http://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2017/04/15/19/08/main_ax_1604_p4a_40p_ax_1-9893480.ashx/?w=620&h=413&crop=1&hash=D90736541DEFD8633DEF5A3CBE49660C5524F89F
Top talk: Najib speaking with Prince Naruhito as Rosmah looks on during the luncheon in Putrajaya. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Masayoshi Honda was quite nervous when he met Crown Prince of Japan Prince Naruhito here.
“I was very nervous talking to Prince Naruhito, as this is my first time meeting him,” said Honda, recalling his meeting with the royalty just minutes earlier.
Honda, 67, was among 42 Japanese citizens living in Malaysia who were invited to the official residence of Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Makio Miyagawa, to meet Prince Naruhito during his five-day official visit to Malaysia.
A member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), Honda said the prince had shown interest in his volunteer work, which involves introducing suitable methods to accurately rate the environmental quality and health of rivers in Malaysia.
Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur president Kenji Ohta said the Japanese citizens living in Malaysia were very honoured by the visit.
“Prince Naruhito asked about Japan Club’s activities in the country,” said Ohta, adding that he told the prince that the club had been holding its annual charity bazaar for the past 44 years.
Ohta said the Japanese people supported and admired the prince.
Violinist Rio Yamase said Prince Naruhito asked about her musical activities in Malaysia as she was an owner of a music school in Tokyo.
The 43-year old, who was born in Petaling Jaya when her father was posted here, said she was happy to have been able to meet the prince.
She hoped that the visit would boost diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Japan, especially on cultural exchanges.
The prince spent over an hour personally talking to each of his citizens during the gathering.
Prince Naruhito is on a five-day visit to Malaysia to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Japan.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor hosted an official luncheon for the prince at Seri Perdana.
The prince was greeted by Najib at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.
Also present at the luncheon were Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim, who is the Minister-in-Attendance.
During the luncheon, the guests were entertained to performances by children from Permata Seni and local artists.
The visit is Prince Naruhito’s first to Malaysia since his investiture as the Crown Prince of Japan in 1991.
The eldest son of Emperor Akihito arrived in Malaysia on Thursday.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/16/japanese-expats-honoured-by-princes-visit/#0D7LlSVdhjyvjysl.99
