Ties between Imperial, Belgian Royal Families Span Generations

Brussels, June 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Imperial couple’s stay at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon, a retreat of the Belgian royal family, as part of their trip to the European country reflects ties between the Imperial and royal families that span generations. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Belgium on Saturday. The retreat, where the couple stays until Monday, was chosen in consideration for them. On Tuesday, they will attend a welcome ceremony and a banquet hosted by Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. This year marks the 160th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium, which began in 1866. Japanese Prince Arisugawa became the first Imperial Family member to visit Belgium when he met with then King Leopold II in 1882. Emperor Naruhito’s grandfather, the late Emperor Showa, called Emperor Hirohito during his lifetime, visited Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium as crown prince in 1921. The university’s library was destroyed by German forces in World War II but was revived with support from Japanese political and economic figures who donated about 15,000 books. Emperor Showa visited Belgium in 1971 after ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne, on the first official overseas trip by a Japanese emperor. The current Emperor’s father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, maintained a friendship with former Belgian King Baudouin that involved their families. The king attended the funeral of Emperor Showa in 1989 and the ascension ceremony of then Emperor Akihito the following year. When the king died in 1993, then Emperor Akihito and his wife, Michiko, attended the state funeral in Belgium. Then Empress Michiko attended the state funeral of former Queen Fabiola in 2014. This close bond between the Imperial and royal families was passed down to Emperor Naruhito. In 1996, the Emperor and King Philippe, both crown princes at the time, went jogging together in Tokyo’s Akasaka Estate, where the Emperor lived. Empress Masako accompanied them on a bicycle. During the 2002 World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea, the two couples watched a match between the Japanese and Belgian national teams together at Saitama Stadium near Tokyo. The current Emperor and king jogged together at the Akasaka Estate in 2016 as well. At a press conference before his ongoing European trip, Emperor Naruhito said he had met King Philippe many times since their first meeting, which took place when the Emperor traveled to Belgium during his time studying in Britain, as they are the same age. “I hope (the visit) will be an opportunity to further develop people-to-people exchanges, mutual understanding and friendship,” he said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]