Photo/Illutration A Nissan Royal Prince limousine used by former emperors is on display at the Numazu Imperial Villa Memorial Park in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture. (Kazuhiko Okada)

NUMAZU, Shizuoka Prefecture--A custom-made limousine once used to ferry the current emperor's grandfather and father is on public display here as part of the city government's celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Numazu Imperial Villa Memorial Park in the Shimokanuki-Togo district.

The Prince Royal, manufactured by Nissan Motor Co., was used by Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa following his death in 1989, and Emperor Emeritus Akihito between 1969 and 2008 as far as records can attest.

The city government borrowed the vehicle from the Imperial Household Agency for the celebration.

The current imperial limousine is based on a commercially available Century manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp. Only seven vehicles were produced for its tailor-made predecessor.

Several Nissan Prince Royals are preserved at the Imperial Household Agency and the Showa Kinen Park.

The vehicle was transported by truck to the memorial park on Oct. 12. and then driven by an agency official from the entrance to an open space where it will be on display until Nov. 22. The imperial flag depicting a chrysanthemum is hoisted at the front to remind visitors of how the limo used to look.

The Numazu Imperial Villa was founded in 1893 as a retreat for Crown Prince Yoshihito, the future Emperor Taisho. It was frequented by numerous members of the imperial family until it fell into disuse in 1969. The now-city-run facility opened as the Numazu Imperial Villa Memorial Park in July 1970.

Assorted items associated with the imperial family are on display in the West Annex. Other memorial events are also planned to celebrate the 50th milestone.

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