■ Courtesy visit by their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan. On November 17, their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan, who visited Japan as Guests of the State, paid an official courtesy visit to Meiji Jingu. The Royal Couple, who began their visit on November 15 and spent five days in Japan including the regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, personally requested a visit to the shrine as they wanted to pay their respects to the Shinto tradition, the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Within the Shaden, the main shrine building, the King and Queen placed sacred branches known as tamagushi on the altar and the King prayed for even deeper friendship between Japan and Bhutan. Chief Priest Seitaro Nakajima explained that Meiji Jingu is one symbol of the harmony of tradition and modernization that characterizes Japanese culture. The King responded that the aim of Bhutan's nation-building is to achieve such harmony, adding that national costume is also an expression of traditional values and spirit.