Tokyo.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Davit of Georgia, Head of the Royal House of Georgia and Sovereign Head and Hereditary Grand Master of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ, knighted Japanese Prime Minister Mr Yukio Hatoyama, in the grade and rank of a Knight Grand Cross.

His Excellency Yukio Hatoyama served as Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan from 16th September 2009 until 2nd June 2010. He was the first Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan.

His Excellency expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the visit of the Crown Prince of Georgia to Japan and discussed current Georgian and Japanese matters of mutual interest with His Royal Highness. Crown Prince Davit thanked his Japanese hosts for their invitation for his visit to Japan and spoke at some length with the Prime Minister about Georgian wines and wine-making tradition, which Mr Hatoyama said he had occasion to enjoy many times.

Mr Hatoyama’s current work in the international and regional political spectrum, particularly concerning the Asia Pacific area, and current affairs effecting the region were discussed with Crown Prince Davit.

Prime Minister Hatoyama thanked the Crown Prince of Georgia for the presentation of the Grand Cross of the Order, which he described as the “highest honour he has been awarded” and that he will wear it with pride. Mr Hatoyama expressed his desire to visit Georgia and invited His Royal Highness to visit Japan again in the near future.