The opening of the Internet site of the Museum of Saint-Exupery’s the Little Prince in Hakone, Japan

On July 31, 1944, 62 years ago, Antoine de Saint-Exupery mysteriously disappeared during a military mission off the coast of Marseille. Since that day, his works, his ideas, and the aura of The Little Prince, written in 1943, have spread without bound across the world.

In our family, the memory of this granduncle is quite vivid. Even if his renown and dignity are at times are a bit heavy for us, he is the pride of all of his family, and he was an individual deserving of a great deal of respect. It is our duty to honor his name, and we have always remained faithful while working hard do to credit to his reputation, but because Saint-Exupery himself had a very humble and reserved personality, and had no like of self-promotion or crowds, this has not been a simple thing.

However, today, Saint-Exupery has so many fans around the world that we believe he himself would be greatly surprised to discover so many friends. Following the 5 hundred million bells given to him by the Little Prince, this time, he as been gifted with millions and millions of friends. Among them, he has particularly many friends in Japan. And his friends in Japan have given Saint-Exupery a truly splendid gift. This gift is the museum in Hakone. Moreover, this museum will be a wonderful gift for those who visit it. The museum is a place where the serenity, poetry, and passion of The Little Prince and its author are communicated to the visitors.

To Internet surfers who visit this site, which was created for the museum, I wish to say, “Whether alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends, don’t delay in visiting the museum to share in an unforgettable day.”

Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to the TBS Group, all of the staff who operate the museum every day, and the founder, Akiko Torii. Thanks to all of your assistance, everyone can access the magical world of The Little Prince only an hour away from Tokyo.

Olivier d’AGAY
Representative of the bereaved family of Antoine de Saint-Exupery