Future emperor spent time on coal face in Valleys mine
IT WAS a very different meeting of Japanese and Welsh culture that hit the headlines some 43 years ago, long before our national side headed across the globe to the Rugby World Cup.
For a few days in the 1970s, the then crown prince of Japan spent time deep underground visiting a South Wales coal mine. He would go on to become emperor, reigning for more than 30 years – and was viewed by some in his country as a living god.
Even after stepping down from the throne earlier this year Emperor Akihito is still revered across Japan.
He took over the throne in 1989 following a series of ancient rituals and spent the next three decades helping transform the country. But Then Japanese Crown Prince Akihito and his wife Crown Princess Michiko arrived in Wales on June 22, 1976, to a huge media circus.
Records of the visit are held at the Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff, detailing how five television companies were waiting for their arrival at Rhoose Airport alongside a huge press pack.
Akihito, who ruled as emperor from 1989 to April this year when he abdicated and is now known as Emperor Emeritus, only had limited time in Wales – but the couple were keen to pack in as much as possible.
Pride of place in the packed itinerary went to the visit made by Crown Prince Akihito to Deep Navigation Colliery in Treharris.
The Glamorgan Archives said the Prince had requested briefings from mining experts in Japan before the visit.
Most of the morning had been cleared so that he could meet the men, examine the workings of the mine and even go down to the coal face.
Heading down to the coal face involved a not so royal journey, with the crown prince having to crawl 40 yards after walking three quarters of a mile underground. It was reported that on the day he took away a piece of coal that he had cut from the work face, a fern shaped fossil and a miner’s lamp presented to him by 17-year-old mining craft apprentice Keith Picton.
National Coal Board South Wales director Philip Weekes described at the time how well the prince had coped with the cramped conditions saying: “He moved very well underground – like a scrum half. He is very fit.”
During their visit the crown princess visited Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle before afternoon visits with her husband to St Fagan’s Museum, the Royal College of Music and Drama and Atlantic College. The royal couple were also treated to a medieval banquet at Cardiff Castle which was hosted by the Foreign Office.
Thirteen years after his visit Akihito became emperor. He abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Akishino, who formally opened the Rugby World Cup in Tokyo on September 20.