Tokyo >> Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik started up a new egg-breaking machine, manufactured by a Danish company, at Mayoterrace, a Tokyo educational facility operated by mayonnaise maker Kewpie Corp.

Made by Sanovo Technology Group headquartered in Odense, the new machine can break and separate 144,000 eggs per hour, according to the company. It was recently installed at a factory of Kewpie’s affiliated company Kewpie Egg Corp. in Hanno, Saitama Prefecture.

Mayoterrace is open to the public with information available about Kewpie products.

Kewpie Egg Corp. President Tadashi Kusumoto said the Japanese are “egg-loving people” and said historians show there are more than 100 egg recipes that date back centuries. Kusumoto also said he hopes the new machine will help enrich Japan’s dietary culture.

The crown prince toured Japan with Crown Princess Mary in October on an official visit marking the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Denmark. Crown Prince Naruhito made an official visit to Denmark in June.