The Japanese Emperor Naruhito has arrived in Belgium along with Empress Masako for an official state visit. Their plane landed at Melsbroek military airport on Saturday. This visit is taking place as Japan and Belgium celebrate 160 years of diplomatic relations, marking a long history of friendship and cooperation between both countries.
The Imperial Couple was invited by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. They are expected to attend official ceremonies, state dinners, and formal meetings with Belgian leaders. This visit also includes cultural events that highlight the strong relationship between Japan and Belgium, which has grown over many decades.
Princess Elisabeth welcomed the Imperial Couple at the airport when they arrived in Belgium. It was her first time when she is taking part in an official state visit reception. Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden also joined the welcome ceremony.
Before arriving in Belgium, the Emperor and Empress visited the Netherlands. During that visit, they met Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, attended a welcoming ceremony, laid flowers at a war memorial, and joined a formal state dinner. This trip also included visits to research centers and public events that focused on science, health, and international relation.
This trip officially started on Saturday, but the public events will not begin immediately. The royal couple will not appear at public events until Tuesday. After landing, they traveled to Ciergnon Castle. This castle located in the province of Namur. They will stay there until Monday. Then they will move to the Royal Palace in Laeken.
Tuesday will be an important day in Brussels. The couple will attend a ceremony at Place des Palais with the Belgian royal family. Emperor Naruhito will also meet Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever at the Lambermont building. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot will also attend that meeting. Later that evening, a state banquet will be held at Laeken Castle in their honor.
On Wednesday, Emperor Naruhito and King Philippe will travel together to Namur and then continue to Leuven. During the visit, they will go to imec, a leading research center focused on microelectronics. They will also visit KU Leuven university. A special part of the visit will be the East Asian Library, which holds many old Japanese books and historical texts.
The royal couple will stay in Belgium until June 25. Before they leave, they plan to meet members of the Japanese community living in Belgium. The meeting will take place at the home of the Japanese ambassador.
This visit is very important for both countries. It marks the first time a sitting Japanese emperor has visited Belgium since 1993. The friendship between Japan and Belgium began in 1866, when both countries signed a treaty of trade and friendship. Today, more than 280 Japanese companies operate in Belgium. These companies provide nearly 30,000 jobs for workers in Belgium.
The royal families of both countries share a long history together. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako once visited Belgium back in 1999. At that time, they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess. They came to attend the wedding of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. King Philippe has also traveled to Japan many times. He went there for a state visit in 2016. His last visit was in 2019 when he visited japan to attend Emperor Naruhito’s coronation ceremony.
This European trip is part of a longer journey for the Emperor and Empress. It is their fourth official international visit since Naruhito became Emperor in 2019. The couple has already visited Indonesia, Britain, and Mongolia on earlier trips. Belgian officials say this visit will help to strengthen relations between both countries.
