Photo/Illutration U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa shake hands during the Japan-U.S. summit held at the State Guest House in Tokyo’s Minato Ward in January 1992. (Pool)

U.S. President George H.W. Bush suggested to Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in 1992 that Emperor Akihito visit the United States to underscore cooperation between the two then-bickering countries, newly released diplomatic records showed.

The documents, declassified by the Foreign Ministry on Dec. 20, revealed a rare conversation between world leaders about overseas visits by a Japanese emperor.

The Japan-U.S. summit was held in Tokyo in January 1992, three years after Akihito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Senior ministry officials at that time only explained to the media that Bush expressed his wish to invite the emperor, and Miyazawa responded that the Japanese government would consider the matter.

However, according to the now-declassified documents, the U.S. president said he was thinking of inviting the emperor in 1993, but such a visit could be uncertain if Bush were to lose in the presidential election in November 1992.

Bush assured Miyazawa that such a scenario was impossible and said “Don't worry.”

Miyazawa responded, “We would seriously consider the visit in 1993.”

At that time, relations between the two countries had soured due to the U.S. trade deficit with Japan and other problems.

Bush expressed his desire to work closely with Miyazawa on such challenging issues.

The president said the emperor’s visit to the United States would send a “very positive signal.”

Miyazawa responded, “I will convey your exact words to the emperor.”

The two leaders also discussed a possible visit by the emperor to China.

Miyazawa explained that the Japanese government was considering the trip in 1992, which marked the 20th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Japan and China.

Given the wartime history of the two neighbors, Bush asked whether Chinese people would welcome such a visit.

Miyazawa replied, “I would not be sure if the visit was to South Korea, but as for China, the (Chinese) government said it would welcome the emperor, so I believe the people would, too.”

The documents indicate that Miyazawa believed that Seoul would have difficulties controlling the situation if anti-Japan protests erupted in South Korea, a democracy, over Tokyo’s wartime responsibilities.

“It is rare to find documents recording in-depth discussions about the emperor’s overseas trips during a meeting with a foreign leader,” said Sumio Hatano, a professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba who is well-versed in Japan’s diplomatic documents.

“The documents suggest that both Mr. Miyazawa and Mr. Bush expected the new emperor to play a role that goes beyond the scope of international goodwill,” Hatano said.

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Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the State Guest House in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, ahead of the Japan-U.S. summit in January 1992 (Pool)

At the time of the summit, Akihito, as Japan’s new emperor, was receiving invitations from many countries. He was also becoming engaged more in overseas trips under the idea of an “open imperial household,” the professor emeritus noted.

In 1992, Akihito, now emperor emeritus, became the first Japanese emperor to visit China.

Despite his assurance to Miyazawa, Bush was not re-elected, losing to Democratic Party candidate Bill Clinton.

Miyazawa was also no longer prime minister when Akihito visited the United States in 1994, one year later than initially planned. He was the second Japanese emperor to visit the country, following his father, Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa, in 1975.

However, a visit to South Korea by a Japanese emperor has never been realized.

(This article was written by Junichiro Nagasaki and Naotaka Fujita, senior staff writer.)

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This article is part of a series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry in December 2023.

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