Prince Akishino and his wife watched a performance of traditional Ryukyuan dance held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
The performance was held at the Yokohama Noh Theater in Yokohama City, and when Prince Akishino and his wife arrived on the afternoon of the 4th, the audience gave a big round of applause, and the couple bowed in response.
One of the performers, Fusako Shida, a Living National Treasure, has been friends with Prince Akishino for many years, and she once taught Ryukyu dance to Princess Kiko when she was in college.
Mr. and Mrs. Akishino were enthusiastically applauded when Ms. Shida performed a performance rich in emotion, accompanied by songs and sanshin performances.
After the performance, the couple had a chat with Shida and other performers.
Ms. Shida said, "The couple said, 'I was happy to see a good dance,' and Prince Akishino expressed concern about the damage caused by the typhoon. When I cried when I realized that they had sent me, Princess Noriko handed me a tissue from my bag," he said of the meeting.