Ichiro Fujisaki, Japan's ambassador to the United States, bowed deeply and presented a wreath yesterday at Punchbowl in honor of the American military men and women who served their nation and are interred there.

He also visited the graves of war correspondent Ernie Pyle, astronaut Ellison Onizuka and Army Staff Sgt. Robert Kuroda, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for action in Bruyeres, France, during World War II.

The national anthems of Japan and the U.S. were played, and a Marine color guard held aloft the flags of both countries. Taps concluded the ceremony.

"The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a symbol of the people who have dedicated their lives to peace and stability in the region, and we have respect for all those who have lost their lives. I think it's very important for us to come and pay respect to that," Fujisaki said after the ceremony.

Asked about the Japanese-Americans who are buried at Punchbowl — including more than 400 soldiers who were with the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team — Fujisaki said, "I think they are brave people — Japanese blood but American heart."

Next to Onizuka, Punchbowl director and retired Marine Gene Castagnetti pointed out the grave of a U.S. Army cook, Frank Matsushiro Kosaka, who was born in 1894 and died in 1972.

"Here at the cemetery we do not segregate individuals by rank," he told Fujisaki. "All are our nation's heroes."

Fujisaki, who became ambassador nine months ago, spent a busy three days in Hawai'i. He visited Hilo and Kona and met with Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi.

Early yesterday morning, Fujisaki paid a traditional visit for Japanese ambassadors to the USS Arizona Memorial and left a wreath, officials said.

Fujisaki was scheduled to return to Washington last night. The ambassador was in Hawai'i ahead of a planned summer visit by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Japan's royal couple are expected to be in Hawai'i in July after a trip to Canada.

No details of their visit have been made public yet.

"I am not (part of) an advance team. The advance team will be here shortly to really prepare, but I wanted to come beforehand as well," Fujisaki said.

Fujisaki met yesterday with Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and attended a memorial for the nine Japanese men and boys killed on the Ehime Maru when a U.S. submarine surfaced, colliding with their fishing training vessel off O'ahu in 2001.

He also met with Air Force officials and was scheduled to meet with Gov. Linda Lingle in a closed-door session. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann was expected to attend a reception for Fujisaki at the Japan consul general's office.