Japanese Crown Princes visit Paraguayan municipality founded by Japanese immigrants 65 years ago

Japan's Crown Princes Fumihito and Kiko concluded their visit to Paraguay with a significant stop in Yguazú, a municipality in the Alto Paraná department. Founded 65 years ago by Japanese immigrants, Yguazú has become a vital agricultural center in Paraguay.

This visit marked the first time the imperial couple had visited the district, originally established as Colonia Yguazú in August 1961 under an agreement between Japan and Paraguay. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) played a role in facilitating the settlement of Japanese families.

During their time in Yguazú, the princes engaged with the local 'nikkei' community, comprised of Japanese immigrants and their descendants. They laid a floral offering at the Yguazú cemetery in memory of the community's deceased and visited the 'Takumi' immigrant museum.

In a speech, Prince Fumihito expressed profound respect for the Japanese immigrants' endeavors, acknowledging the harsh natural environment they overcame to establish Yguazú as a major agricultural hub. He specifically noted Yguazú's pioneering adoption of the 'direct sowing' technique, a method now widely used in Paraguay for crops like soybeans, corn, and wheat to prevent soil erosion.

The royal couple also toured the Yguazú Agricultural Cooperative, founded in 1961 by fourteen Japanese immigrants. Initially focused on horticulture, the cooperative now boasts diversified agro-industrial activities, including the collection and marketing of grains. The visit underscored the enduring ties between Japan and Paraguay, celebrating the contributions of Japanese immigrants to Paraguayan development.

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deep respect for the extraordinary efforts that the Japanese immigrants who arrived in Yguazú made, who - he affirmed - had to face a 'severe natural environment' until they turned the area into 'an important agricultural center in Paraguay'.