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Prince William visits Yokohama War Cemetery, dines with emperor, empress

9 Comments

Britain's Prince William, on the second day of a four-day visit to Japan, visited the Yokohama War Cemetery on Friday morning.

After laying a wreath and offering a silent prayer, the prince signed a guest book near an article about his late mother Diana who also visited the cemetery in 1995. The cemetery contains the graves of 1,700 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Japan as prisoners of war or with the occupying forces after the war.

After visiting the cemetery, William went to the imperial palace where he had lunch with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, whom he last met three years ago.

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9 Comments
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Next of his Asian tour is China, so we all like Europe, or is it?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

For some unknown reason, my brain doesn't call up the Yokohama War Cemetery. I've been to the Foreign Cemetery there ... so, is the War Cemetery a part of this, near it or is it elsewhere in Yokohama? Just curious ...

Would like to see it ...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They are talking about the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery out a Hodogaya, a place full of manicured lawns and flowers. From memory, the servicemen out there are those that either died as slave labor in Japan or were killed on the Korean Peninsular during the Korean War. There is also a couple of KIA aircrew from the Korean War. Nationalities represented (from memory) are Indians, Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and quite a few Canadians. The most well-known internee out there is probably WO2 Ray Simpson VC, who after retiring from the army worked for many years as the caretaker at the Australian embassy in Tokyo. Simmo won his VC at a member of the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam. He also experienced the mass breakout of Japanese Prisoners from Cowra POW camp in 1944. Because he didn't die on active service, he was given a special dispensation to be buried out at Hodogaya.

For all the Aussies and Kiwis out there, ANZAC day is held at Hodogaya every year. The Brits might also hold a Remembrance Day service as well. Great place to visit, but decorum is required.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

"Britain's Prince William, on his second day of his four-day trip to Japan, is having tea Friday with Crown Prince Naruhito. Both princes may be equally charming, but it is no contest which one is seen as more approachable."

"Members of the Japanese imperial family lead a highly cloistered life, guarded by the moat-surrounded stone walls of the palace. Their media coverage is just as tightly orchestrated and controlled.

And that has created a respectful distance between the family and the general public.

"Don't count on regular Japanese clamoring to get the same dress or jewelry spotted on Naruhito's wife Masako, the same way many around the world do for Kate's." "Compared to Japanese royalty, he is so friendly," said Naoyuki Tajima, who is overseeing an exhibit about British technology and culture in Tokyo, "

From: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prince-william-strikes-friendly-contrast-japans-prince-050237006.html

1 ( +4 / -3 )

But is her dress white-and-gold?

(Or black-and-blue?)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So how old is this Prince William? I do not want to guess, but he seems to have really lost a lot of hair. Anybody know his actual age?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

It's an inherited characteristic of the Royals... although Harry is probably more like his mum. William is 32. Thanks to my family's genes I started to lose my hair when I was 17. Loved that >.<

2 ( +2 / -0 )

These photo ops with the Japanese and western royal families are awkward.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Hongo,

Yes, it is a nice place to visit and one of those places I think many people dont know about; it has a very foriegn, Western feel to it. If there is such a place in Japan, I wonder if there is in HK, SG etc as well.

There are also US servicemen interned there. I dont know if you can say buried; they are in a box of sorts, like a bone box in a small enclosure facing the cemetary.. Its a very interesting place and I salute the Brits for keeping up a place even today. I dont think the US has such a place in Japan, least I never heard of it. I got the feeling that many buried there died in the closing days of the war, likely beheaded and such. I think the japanese are responsible for the upkeep but the british gov pays for it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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