LONDON -- The Crown Prince of Japan visited Britain last week and was warmly received all round.
Queen Elizabeth II treated him to a boat trip up the Thames while he stayed with her at Windsor, the lord chancellor hosted a grand official dinner and on a more everyday level he was greeted with public enthusiasm at numerous functions forming part of the Japan 2001 Festival -- a vast nine-month program of Japan-related events up and down the country.
None of this may have captured the headlines, which last week were full of angry exchanges between parties and politicians campaigning ahead of the British general election on June 7. But in a quiet way the visit did serve to underline several important points.
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