Tokyo: Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida both intend to attend the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, according to Japanese media. Since ascending to the throne in May 2019, it would be Naruhito's first trip abroad. According to NTV, TBS, and other media outlets on Friday, citing government sources, Empress Masako has also expressed a desire to attend, and the Japanese government is organising their trip. After visiting New York for the United Nations General Assembly later in the month, Kishida is considering going to the funeral, which Britain claims will take place in a little over a week, according to TV Asahi on Saturday. The funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch will be attended by US Vice President Joe Biden, according to reports.
Outside of business hours, it was impossible to immediately reach the Prime Minister's Office or the Imperial Household Agency for comment on the reports.
Japan's imperial family and the British royal family have a long history of friendship. The queen had extended an invitation to the emperor to visit Britain in 2020, but the visit was postponed due to the pandemic. Queen Elizabeth made a "great contribution" to fostering Tokyo's ties with London when she travelled to Japan in 1975 to meet the then-Emperor Hirohito, according to Kishida on Friday.
The Imperial Household Agency stated that Naruhito, who attended Oxford University in the 1980s and expressed condolences, was "deeply saddened" by the queen's passing. Masako attended Oxford as well. As they were experiencing "deep grief and heartfelt condolences," the emperor and empress entered three days of mourning on Friday, the agency said. A Japanese emperor rarely travels outside of Japan to attend a royal funeral. When King Baudouin of Belgium passed away in 1993, then-Emperor Akihito, who is now emperor emeritus, and then-Empress Michiko attended his state funeral.
EAM Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh call on Japanese PM Kishida
Building the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, pillar by pillar
Queen Elizabeth II death: As the British Monarch dies, Operation London Bridge begins.