Japan Imperial Couple Attend Welcoming Ceremony in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, June 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who are on a state visit to the Netherlands, attended a welcoming ceremony held at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Wednesday. The Emperor and the Empress arrived at the ceremony venue from the Royal Palace Amsterdam, where they are staying, with the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The national anthems of both countries were played, and a guard of honor lined up. The Japanese Imperial couple and the Dutch royal couple then spoke with some 30 Japanese school students in the Netherlands, who also participated in the ceremony, and took photos with them. Led by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, the Imperial couple walked to a monument for the war dead in the square and offered flowers. After a trumpet performance, they stood in silence for a minute and a half. At a press conference held Thursday last week, before the start of the tour, Emperor Naruhito touched on the internment of Dutch people by the now-defunct Japanese military during World War II, saying, “I would like to think about the fact that there are people who are still suffering pain.” Emperor Naruhito’s parents, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, laid flowers and offered long prayers at the monument 26 years ago, when the former Emperor was on the throne. This helped improve relations between Japan and the Netherlands. On Wednesday afternoon, Emperor Naruhito visited Deltares, a water research institute in Delft, southwest of Amsterdam, with King Willem-Alexander. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend a banquet to be hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on Wednesday evening, with the Emperor slated to deliver an address. The Imperial couple arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday and stayed at the Dutch royal family’s Het Oude Loo castle in Apeldoorn, east of Amsterdam, until Tuesday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]