Japan emperor expected to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral: media

Japan emperor expected to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral: media

Japan's Emperor Naruhito is expected to attend Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, local media reported on Saturday
Japan's Emperor Naruhito is expected to attend Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, local media reported on Saturday. Photo: Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
Source: AFP

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block and enjoy!

Japan's Emperor Naruhito is expected to attend Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, local media reported on Saturday.

If confirmed, this will be his first overseas trip since he ascended the Chrysanthemum throne in 2019 following his father's abdication.

Naruhito was scheduled to visit Britain as his first overseas trip after the ascension, but it was postponed due to the pandemic.

Public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday that the Imperial Household Agency and the Japanese government are making arrangements, citing unnamed sources.

Both were not immediately available to confirm the reports.

The Mainichi Shimbun daily noted that this is a rare response, as the emperor does not typically attend any funerals in Japan and overseas, though other members of the royal family do.

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoy reading our stories? Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel for more!

Read also

To Mandela, the queen was simply 'Elizabeth'

Empress Masako will also attend if her condition allows, reports said.

Local media cited close ties between Japanese and British royals as reasons for Naruhito's possible attendance.

Naruhito's father Akihito attended the queen's coronation in 1953 as the crown prince in place of then-emperor Hirohito.

In 1975, the queen made the first visit to Japan by a British monarch and met Hirohito.

In a statement released after her death, Naruhito hailed her "many achievements and contributions", saying he felt "deep sorrow".

The 62-year-old emperor -- who studied at Oxford University -- thanked her for "many considerations she has given me during my studies and visits to the UK".

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also reportedly considering attending the funeral.

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.