Most of them can't speak Japanese, or can't speak it very well. Some have only been to Japan a few times.

But the tug of cultural roots and a request from the Foreign Ministry brought a dozen third-generation Japanese-American community leaders to Japan on a 10-day visit to improve relations between Japanese-Americans and Japan.

The group seemed to both enjoy and regret the schedule for their short trip, which was jam-packed with some 25 official meetings and tours, with the likes of Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, Prince Takamado, his wife, Princess Hisako, and Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota.