Japan's Crown Princess Attends State Banquet

Tokyo, Oct. 29 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Crown Princess Masako made her first attendance in 11 years at a state banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Wednesday. The banquet was hosted by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to welcome King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Crown Princess Masako appeared in a white dress and wore a tiara. After taking a seat, she smiled as she talked with guests. In a speech, Emperor Akihito said Japanese people would like to make further efforts to promote friendly relations with the Netherlands while keeping in mind regrets that the bilateral ties were damaged due to World War II. In response, King Willem-Alexander said that the scars of war still cast shadows on a number of people's lives. The basis of healed relations is to recognize each other's pain, he said. The banquet was also attended by Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie, among others. END