The itinerary for the Emperor and Empress’s visit to the Philippines later this month has been revealed.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will leave Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on January 26th and arrive in Manila for a 5-day trip.
They will attend a welcome ceremony and meet President Benigno Aquino on January 27th. The Emperor will give a speech expressing hope for the further development of friendly relations between the 2 countries at a welcome banquet.
On the same day, the couple will visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay tribute to the Philippine war dead.
The Emperor and Empress will visit a monument in Caliraya, about 70 kilometers from Manila, on January 29th. The monument was built by the Japanese government for the victims of the war in the Pacific. Bereaved families of the dead will also be present at the occasion.
During their visit, the couple will visit a linguistic training facility for people who want to work as nurses and caregivers in Japan. They will also meet people of Japanese descent.
This will be the couple’s first visit to the Philippines in 54 years. This year marks the 60th anniversary since the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Philippines.
Source and image: NHK
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