Japan sends imperial family member to Russia for 1st visit in century english.kyodonews.net

Princess Hisako, honorary patron of the Japan Football Association, left Japan on Monday to attend games of the ongoing World Cup finals in Russia, marking the first visit to the country by a Japanese imperial family member in over a century.

The trip by the 64-year-old widow of Prince Takamado, is expected to help deepen ties between Japan and Russia at a time when Russia's alleged nerve agent attack in Britain in March is creating tensions between Moscow and Western countries.