In an interview given on his birthday on December 18th, 2001, Emperor Akihito of Japan stated, "I, on my part, feel a certain kinship with Korea, given the fact that it is recorded in the Shoku Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan, compiled in 797), that the mother of Emperor Kanmu (reign 781〜806) was of the line of King Muryong (reign 501〜523) of the Kingdom of Paekche (Korea)."

That the emperor himself forthrightly referred to this little-publicized and conventionally swept-under-the-carpet imperial lineage is noteworthy.

His candidness in this delicate matter is the epitome of what can be gracefully accomplished by means of Imperial Diplomacy.

I commend him for his courage.