Prince Akishino, the second son of Emperor Akihito, left early Tuesday for a private trip to Thailand, the Imperial Household Agency said.
The prince is slated to make a courtesy call on King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, while receiving honorary doctoral degrees from Kasetsart University and Chiangmai University for his study of the domestication of chickens, according to the agency. He will return home Friday.
The prince was scheduled to visit Thailand last March, but the trip was called off due to political unrest there at the time.