Prince Albert visits Setouchi Islands Japan
On 29 and 30 October, Prince Albert made a cultural visit to the Setouchi Islands in Japan. For the 4th Setouchi Art Triennale, which ends on 4 November, the Sovereign Prince visited Naoshima Island. He was able to meet the artists, discover contemporary art creations and places of residence transformed into works of art.
Guided by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, Prince Albert also visited the Ando Museum and the Chi Chu Art Museum. Designed by Ando and opened in 2013 for the 2nd Setouchi Triennale, the Ando Museum looks like a simple traditional house from the outside, while the concrete interior presents a retrospective of the architect’s work. The Chi Chu Art Museum, also made of concrete and designed by Ando, links light and nature.
At the Port of Uno in the city of Tamano, the Sovereign Prince, accompanied by high school students, discovered the Black Sea Bream of Uno, a sculpture made by the artist Shibata using the Yodogawa technique that uses waste and floating objects from the sea to create works of art.
Prince Albert and Princess Takamado attend Alain Ducasse’s restaurant in Tokyo
Prince Albert and Princess Takamado, a member of the imperial family of Japan, attended the inaugural dinner at the Esterre restaurant, by Monaco chef Alain Ducasse. Literal translation of Esterre: “mother earth” in Occitan dialect spoken in the Southwest, where the starred chef is from.
Located in the legendary Palace Hotel in Tokyo, facing the gardens of the Imperial Palace, this new restaurant presents cuisine inspired by nature and aspires to bridge Monaco and Japan. The restaurant takes a contemporary approach to haute cuisine based on Japanese local products, prepared using French and Japanese culinary techniques. Cuisine that the first customers and guests were able to taste for the first time during the inaugural dinner.
Grandes Médailles Albert I awarded to Ban Ki-Moon and Professor Lisa Ann Levin
In the presence of HSH Prince Albert, the winners of the Grandes Médailles Albert I were awarded on Thursday 7 November at the Oceanographic Museum. Every year, the big names of the marine world who protect the ocean are awarded with a gilded bronze medal bearing the profile of Prince Albert I, pioneer of modern oceanography.
Ban Ki-Moon was awarded the medal for Mediation. Former UN Secretary General who helped create Sustainable Development Goal n°14 concerning the Ocean, Ban Ki-Moon has made the protection of the environment a priority on an international scale. He contributed to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Today, through his Foundation, he participates in the development of citizen projects all over the world.
Lisa Ann Levin was awarded the medal for Science. Oceanographer, author and co-founder of the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative, Professor Lisa Ann Levin studies the impact of climate change on benthic communities in deep and shallow water environments. Her important work seeks to highlight the need for political, technological and economic sectors to work together with scientists to further consider the impacts of human activity on marine environments.
To support new generations of researchers, the Oceanographic Institute also awarded a Thesis Award to Dr. Violaine Pellicheros. The laureate received a grant of 3,000 euros for further research on the dynamics of surface layers under sea ice.
Prince Albert receives Noriko Sakashita, a Japanese Survivor
Prince Albert received Noriko Sakashita, a “Hibakusha” a Japanese word for survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in August 1945, in the Prince’s Cabinet. Noriko Sakashita spoke about her experiences to students at Lycée Albert I. The words of these survivors are precious and are becoming rarer over time.
Noriko Sakashita was in Monaco thanks to the joint action of ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), which is fighting for the abolition of nuclear weapons around the world and which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, and Peace Boat an international NGO based in Japan that promotes peace, human rights and sustainability.
Princess Charlene inaugurates Italian School
On Saturday 9 November, Princess Charlene traveled to Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy to inaugurate the Parrozzani primary school, which had been destroyed during an earthquake on 9 November 2016. The new 1000m2 school, which will host 200 students, was reconstructed thanks to the Italian Red Cross, the Monegasque Red Cross and private partners.
During the inauguration, Princess Charlene received the gold medal of the Italian Red Cross, awarded by Rosario Maria Gianluca Valestro, Vice President of the Italian Red Cross. The Monegasque and Italian Red Cross have been working together for more than 30 years.
