Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will make official visits to the Netherlands and Belgium as state guests from June 13 to 26.
The schedule was decided at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.
The imperial family has long-established relationships with the royal families of the two European countries. This year marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Belgium.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the emperor and empress will arrive in Amsterdam on June 13 and go to Brussels on June 20.
The imperial couple are slated to attend banquets hosted by the two countries’ kings and queens, among other events. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will also offer flowers at monuments for war dead.
Invitations were extended by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Belgian King Philippe for the imperial couple to visit their respective countries.
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will serve as the chief attendant for the couple’s visit to Europe. Yutaka Ono, a psychiatrist for Empress Masako, will accompany her.
It will be the couple’s fourth overseas trip for international goodwill since the emperor’s enthronement in May 2019. Previously, they visited Indonesia, Britain and Mongolia.
AloJapan.com