Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, joined by Princess Akiko of Mikasa, officially opened Japan Day in Monaco on Saturday morning, marking 20 years of diplomatic relations between the Principality and Japan.
The ceremony took place at 11 am on the esplanade of the Grimaldi Forum, where a large crowd of officials, guests and members of the public gathered to watch the celebrations unfold.
On arrival, a bouquet was presented to Princess Charlene, followed by a second bouquet to Princess Akiko, before the official speeches got underway.
Twenty years of friendship
Prince Albert II spoke in French, while Princess Akiko addressed the crowd in Japanese, with translators on hand for both.
The Prince talked about the closeness of the two nations, noting that throughout 2026, a series of events are set to take place in both Monaco and Tokyo, spanning the arts, food, culture and music, as well as deeper exchanges at a diplomatic level.
He also pointed to the 1.5 million Japanese visitors Monaco has welcomed as a testament to the affection the two peoples share, and expressed his personal gratitude to Princess Akiko for making the journey to the Principality.
On her part, Princess Akiko spoke warmly of the ties between the two countries, and drew attention to the Japanese Garden as a symbol of that friendship. Special mention was also made to Prince Rainier III, who built the garden with stones and materials brought directly from Japan.
After the speeches, the esplanade came alive with a powerful taiko drumming performance by Wako Rising Sun, followed by a poetic choreography from Mimoza Koike, principal dancer with the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, performed to live taiko accompaniment.
Into the Japanese Garden
When the spectacle wrapped up, Princess Akiko walked through the Japanese Garden with members of the public, as the rest of the day’s programme including craft exhibitions, Washi-Sakura workshops and a second taiko performance continued across the garden and the Grimaldi Forum esplanade until 5pm.
The event was organised by the Embassy of Monaco in Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Monaco, and the Monaco Friends of Japan Association.
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Main photo credit: Sarah Steck, Prince’s Palace