Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday kicked off a series of meetings with foreign dignitaries who are visiting Japan to attend the Emperor's enthronement proclamation ceremony.
The series of meetings started Monday morning at the State Guest House in Motoakasaka, Tokyo. Abe first met with Maldives President Ibrahim Solih, followed by Nepali President Bidhya Bhandari and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. In total, the prime minister was to hold talks with 23 dignitaries on Monday.
On Wednesday, the day after the Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi enthronement proclamation ceremony, Abe will have a meeting with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, during which the two are expected to discuss pending issues between the two countries ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit next spring.
The following day, Abe will have talks with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, during which they are expected to discuss the wartime labor issue.
For the proclamation ceremony, the government sent invitations to 194 of the countries that Japan recognizes as states -- the exception being Syria due to concerns over rampant atrocious acts by the regime of President Bashar Assad. Of the 194 states, 174 have sent representatives to attend the ceremony.
In addition, the government sent invitations to the United Nations, the European Union and the Palestinian Authority.
The number of the countries Japan sent invitations to this time increased by about 30 compared with the previous enthronement proclamation ceremony held in 1990, the year after the Heisei era began, mainly because a number of countries declared their independence following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
According to government sources, more than 70 countries are expected to send to the ceremony their heads of state, such as kings and presidents, while royal family members, heads of government, ministers and ambassadors to Japan are among the guests to attend the ceremony. The United States has dispatched Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, even though Japan had hoped that Vice President Mike Pence could make it.
The Emperor has deep ties with Britain as he studied at the University of Oxford. Prince Charles is expected to attend the latest enthronement proclamation ceremony, as he did in 1990, when he was accompanied by Princess Diana.
The Emperor attended the wedding of Spain's King Felipe VI, who is expected to attend Tuesday's ceremony.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
