Japan’s Emperor and Empress to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

Tokyo, Sept. 14 (Jiji Press) — Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel to Britain from Saturday to Tuesday to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the chief cabinet secretary said on Wednesday. Hirokazu Matsuno.

It will be the Emperor’s first visit abroad since he took the throne in 2019.

It is unusual for a Japanese emperor to attend the funeral of a foreign member of the royal family.

“The government has asked the Emperor and Empress to attend the funeral, given the close relationship between the British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family,” Matsuno told a news conference.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not attend the funeral, according to Matsuno.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]