Philippines President and First Lady in Japan

The incoming state visit has begun in Japan with a welcoming ceremony and state call at the Imperial Palace.

The Philippine President and First Lady have arrived in Japan to begin their three-day state visit to the country. The visit comes as Japan and the Philippines celebrate the 70th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations with Japan in July 1956.

This morning in Tokyo, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were waiting for the Presidential Couple outside the Imperial Palace in the Eastern Court, where such ceremonies are traditionally held. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, arrived at the palace in the imperial cars, which are dispatched to state guests as a courtesy, similar to the state Bentley given to visiting guests in the UK.

During the official welcoming ceremony, the President was given full military honours and a salute. He then inspected a waiting Guard of Honour and greeted the assembled local schoolchildren, waving Japanese and Philippine flags. The national anthem was played as well as Ilocano folk songs “Pamulinawen” and “Manang Biday”, according to reporter Alexis B. Romero.

Once inside, the Presidential Couple greeted Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Akishino (Kiko) in the Minami-damari. This lobby has an area of 528 square metres (about 160 tsubo). It is built with black granite (Matsuba-ishi) from Yamaguchi prefecture, pine wood (Hyuga-matsu) from Miyazaki prefecture, and marble (Katsuren) from Okinawa prefecture,’ per the Imperial Household Agency.

The Emperor and Empress then proceeded to the Take-no-Ma (Audience Room) for a state call. During the 20-minute pleasantries, an honour exchange was held, during which Emperor Naruhito bestowed on the President the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan’s highest Order, while First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown. In return, President Marcos conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Supremo (Grand Collar) upon the Empero. At the same time,e the Empress received the Order of Gabriela Silang, both of which are amongst the highest civilian honours in the Philippines.

The Presidential Couple gifted the Imperial Couple a recipe for ‘Halo-Halo’ (a shaved-ice dessert from the Philippines) as well as glassware. The President noted that Hokkaido’s Niseko area, along with other locations, has become a popular tourist destination for the Philippines. The Imperial Couple, in return, gifted President and First Lady Marcos a decorative box adorned with kirikane (cut gold leaf) and a handbag made of Saga Nishiki fabric, per the Imperial Household Agency.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako saw off the Presidential Couple on the steps of the palace, where they had been received. After their departure, the Philippine press corps was delighted when the Emperor and Empress spoke to them, inquiring about their stay and how it was going.

Journalist Romero also stated that,

Reporters told the Imperial Couple that Japan is a popular destination for Filipinos. They also informed the Emperor and Empress about the Filipinos’ admiration for Japanese people, food and culture, 

The Presidential Couple will return to the Palace in the evening for a glittering state banquet. It is expected that ten members of the Imperial Family will host the Marcoses, including Princess Aiko and Prince Hisahito.

This will be Prince Hisahito’s first time attending such a diplomatic event. The IHA previously noted that the Prince was reviewing relevant materials to prepare for the occasion.