By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Japan's Princess Sayako presented a wreath at the National
Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl, today
in honor of the American troops who died in World
War II. The wreath bore a ribbon with her name and
the chrysanthemums that symbolize Japan's Imperial
family. Punchbowl director Gene Castagnetti looked on.

Japan princess
visits Punchbowl

Her wreath honors WWII
dead, and she also pauses at
the grave of Challenger
astronaut Ellison Onizuka

By Susan Kreifels
and Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Fifty-four years after her grandfather, the late Emperor Hirohito, surrendered to the Allied forces to end World War II, Japan's Princess Sayako today presented a wreath in honor of American troops who died in that conflict.

A U.S. Marine laid the wreath, bearing a ribbon with her name and the chrysanthemums that symbolize the Imperial family, at the foot of Punchbowl's long steps. Sayako, with the familiar hat and gloves, walked up a red carpet to the step and signed the guest book her parents signed during their visit in 1994.

She later stopped at Section D, where more than 400 Japanese Americans who fought in the European theater are buried. Before her visit to Hawaii, she told reporters in Tokyo that when she was a child, her parents had described to her the heroics of Japanese Americans during World War II.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
At the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl,
Japan's Princess Sayako today paid tribute to the American
troops who died in World War II. "She talked about the
beautiful trees that shade the souls of the American
peacekeepers," said Gene Castagnetti.

Sayako, 30, also stopped at the grave of astronaut Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka, a Hawaii native who died aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1986.

"She talked about the beautiful trees that shade the souls of the American peacekeepers," said Gene Castagnetti, director of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and her escort there. "She thought the trees and beauty and dignity made it a fitting place to honor the war dead."

Distant members of the Imperial family planted one of the trees in 1985.

Sayako, the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, arrived in Honolulu yesterday for a weeklong stay -- her first visit to the islands. Those who met the princess for the first time say they were struck by her warmth and intelligence, while those who had met her before say they were touched by her memory.

Yoko Hara, who escorted Sayako around the exhibits at the Bishop Museum, said the princess asked to visit the museum in part because of her interest in birds. The part-time researcher at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology thus got a briefing on native birds, and on the use of feathers by Hawaiians.

Hara said Sayako also displayed an interest in other cultural issues such as traditional Hawaiian religion and asked knowledgeable questions about Japanese Americans in Hawaii.

"She knew about picture brides," said Hara, Asia/Pacific marketing manager for the museum.

After her museum visit, Sayako met with Lori Murayama, Hawaii's reigning Cherry Blossom queen, and five of her predecessors.

Sayako was "very gentle and very warm" during their meeting, Murayama said.

Murayama will meet Sayako again next month when she and the Cherry Blossom entourage travel to Japan. Hawaii's reigning Cherry Blossom queens have met with Sayako in Japan annually since 1990.

Laurie Toma Libarios, the 1995 queen, was pleasantly surprised when Sayako asked her if she's still working as a career counselor at Honolulu Community College.

That was something, "considering all the people she meets," Libarios said.