Prince Charles tours Nara with wife Camilla, sees Great Buddha

NARA, Japan, Oct. 29 Kyodo - Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla spent Wednesday, the third day of their five-day official trip to Japan, visiting the ancient capital city of
Nara in western Japan.

At Todai Temple, the royal couple saw the Great Buddha, a giant statue of
Buddha, and a model that reproduced the 8th-century temple's original state as
they were guided around by the temple's head priest, Dozen Ueno.
They also saw ongoing restoration work at the Shosoin treasure house nearby.
Later, the royal couple visited a local craftwork hall in the city and saw
artisans weaving the traditional Nara Sarashi fabric and students in a
craftwork class chiseling wood.
They responded to a hall official's request by signing their names there on
traditional ceramic plates.
Later in the day, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Prince Charles, who is
heir to the British throne, held talks at a Tokyo hotel, where the prince
expressed hope that the bilateral relationship will grow further, a Japanese
official said.
The prince also touched on the importance of forest conservation, and Aso said
Japan would like to exercise leadership with Britain in the field of climate
change, the official said.
The royal visit marks the 150th anniversary of the two countries' signing of an
amity and commerce treaty.
The prince, who arrived Monday, last visited Japan in 1990 with his late wife
Princess Diana when he represented Queen Elizabeth II at the enthronement of
Emperor Akihito.
Camilla, his second wife and the Duchess of Cornwall, is on her first official
trip to Japan.
The couple will also visit Nagano before heading to Brunei.