Brunei’s Crown Prince Attends Dinner in Kyoto with Japanese Officials

KYOTO—His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince of Brunei, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah were guests of honor at a dinner in Kyoto, Japan, on the evening of March 9th. The dinner, jointly hosted by Kyoto City Mayor Matsui Koji, Vice Governor of Kyoto Prefecture Furukawa Hironori, and Iwai Kazumichi, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Industry of Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was aimed at fostering closer ties between Brunei and Japan.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the Crown Prince expressed optimism for enhanced cooperation in trade and investment between the two nations, especially in light of the upcoming 2024 Brunei-Japan Friendship Year. Upon their arrival at the Kyoto State Guest House, the royal couple was welcomed by Mikami Akiteru, the Director General of the Guest State House, and introduced to the dinner’s joint hosts and their spouses. The Mayor of Kyoto expressed his hope that the event would contribute to increased cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Brunei and Japan. The Crown Prince noted the significance of his first visit to Kyoto, while the dinner also featured speeches from the Vice Governor of Kyoto Prefecture and the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Industry of Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, complemented by performances of traditional Japanese ‘so-Kyoku’ music played on the ‘Koto’.