Shaking hands with an emperor
Emperor Akihito and empress Michiko walk down the steps of the B.C. Legislature after signing a guest book in the Rotunda inside.
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It's an opportunity most Japanese wouldn't dream of once, let alone twice.
Dick Nakamura’s handshake with the emperor on Saturday was caught by Japanese media who wired the pictures to their home newspapers.
“It’s tough for an average Japanese to get close (to the imperial couple),” said Nakamura of the great privilege. “Shaking hands is unheard of.”
Over the weekend, emperor Akihito and empress Michiko stayed at Government House and toured the Legislature Building and the Institute of Ocean Science.
As a former air force photographer, Nakamura was ready with his own camera Saturday morning, but had no time to take pictures. After the brief greeting with the emperor at the Legislature grounds, the foreign media descended on him for interviews.
It was the second time his camera brought him close to royalty. Shortly before Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, Nakamura had a private photo shoot with the princess for six minutes.
The emperor’s visit, however, had special meaning because of his Japanese descent.
“I was glad for my parents,” said Nakamura, whose father immigrated to Canada from Japan in 1907. His mother came in the 1920s. “They’ll be watching me (even though they’re not here).”
Later on Saturday, Nakamura again met the emperor as one of 30 guests from the Japanese Canadian community invited for tea.
Emperor Akihito thanked him for his years of service working as a liaison for Japanese navy ships visiting Victoria's shores.
Also on the guest list was Mineko Matsumura, president of the Japanese Friendship Society.
The imperial couple thanked her for her role helping new arrivals to Victoria find community and support. “They were so kind,” said Matsumura. “All of us felt so pleased ... it was a nice, warm feeling.”
At the airport farewell, she said the Akihito and Michiko lingered to greet the community once more.
“I felt like they wanted to stay.”
rholmen@saanichnews.com
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