Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prince Naruhito received the cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa, the creator of the characters Tikara and Keika, mascots for the Centenary of Japanese immigration to Brazil. 
 
Also present in the meeting in Tokyo were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Masahiko Koumura, other authorities from the Japanese government, and representatives from Japan Foundation and the Association for the Celebration of the Centenary of Japanese Immigration.
 
During the ceremony, Mauricio de Sousa presented the Emperor with a painting of the characters, to be included in the Japanese Imperial Palace art collection.  The Japanese post office plans to create an official stamp featuring the images of Tikara and Keika.
 
Offers Mauricio de Sousa: “After receiving the painting, Emperor Akihito very kindly broke  protocol, exchanging a handshake with us. Through the interpreter we talked about Monica’s Gang and I introduced myself using a phrase in Japanese that I had learned: ‘Boku Wa Mangaka Desu,' which means ‘I draw comic books.' The Emperor then asked my wife, Alice Takeda, about the origin of her Japanese family."
 
The Prince is scheduled to visit Brazil next June. According to the Japanese Embassy in Brazil, the objective of Naruhito’s trip to Brazil is to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries, as there are approximately 1.5 million Japanese descendents in Brazil, the largest community in the world.

Mauricio presented the Emperor with a painting of Tikara and Keika.

 

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