Prince Akishino and Princess attend Shiga high school sports meet opening, express concern over Kumamoto quake

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko arrived in Shiga Prefecture on 2 August and watched the women's weight‑lifting competition at a local high school, applauding the athletes and noting the impact of the recent Kumamoto earthquake on participants.

The couple attended the opening ceremony of the National High School Sports Meet (Inter‑High) on 3 August at the Daihatsu Arena in Otsu, offering wishes that the young competitors would excel worldwide. After the ceremony they returned to Tokyo.

Their presence highlighted both support for school sports and solidarity with regions affected by the Kumamoto tremor.