If The Japanese Emperor Naruhito Is Present At Queen Elizabeth II's Cemetery, It Is History

Photo via @wabbey

JAKARTA - Japanese Emperor Naruhito is planned to attend Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral. If that plan is realized, this is a rare moment.

If so, it would be the first overseas trip for the Japanese Emperor Naruhito since his appointment in 2019, as quoted by The Guardian, Saturday, September 10.

The Guardian received information from public broadcaster NHK who reported that the Imperial Household Agency and the Japanese government were making arrangements.

Both were not immediately available to confirm the report.

Daily Mainichi Shimbun notes, this is a rare response. Usually the Emperor does not attend funerals in Japan and abroad, even though other royal family members do so.

The Queen of Masako will also attend if her condition allows, the information said.

Local media quoted the close relationship between Japanese and British aristocrats as the reason for the possible presence of Naruhito.

Naruhito's father, Akihito, attended the queen's coronation in 1953 as the crown prince replacing then Emperor Hirohito. In 1975, the queen made her first visit to Japan by a British king and met Hirohito.

The 62-year-old Emperor - who studied at the University of Oxford - thanked the Queen for her consideration during my studies and visits to England.

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