By AKIKO TADA/ Staff Writer
April 7, 2023 at 16:31 JST
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet members of the public who gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to celebrate his birthday on Feb. 23. (Sayuri Ide)
Emperor Naruhito plans to visit Indonesia as early as late June in his first official state visit for international friendship after his enthronement in 2019.
It will also be the emperor’s first overseas trip since the COVID-19 pandemic began, except for a visit to Britain in September 2022 to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, and will mark his first trip to Indonesia.
“State visits are a very important duty to improve Japan’s ties with other countries,” said an Imperial Household Agency senior official, welcoming plans to resume the emperor's trips abroad for international friendship.
Empress Masako may not accompany her husband if she is not healthy enough to make the trip.
The visit was announced on April 6 and will become official after being approved by the Cabinet.
It is planned as part of the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN relations.
Indonesia is chairing the Southeast Asian bloc this year.
Naruhito received an invitation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo in 2019 and again in 2022 when the president visited Japan.
The last trip to Indonesia by Japanese royals was made by Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko in 2008 when they were prince and princess.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko also visited the country during Akihito’s reign in 1991 and in 1962 as crown prince and crown princess.
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