Emperor Naruhito to meet with Macron next week

June 18, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Emperor Naruhito will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, during the couple's visit to Japan starting June 26, the Japanese government said Tuesday.

The Emperor will also host a court luncheon in honor of the couple. Empress Masako will attend these events if her health permits, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura told a press conference.

This will be the first visit to Japan by Macron since he became president. He will also hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before they attend a summit of Group of 20 leaders in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 28-29.

Abe is scheduled to chair the G-20 summit, while Macron is set to host his counterparts from the Group of Seven top economies in Biarritz, southwestern France, on Aug. 24-26. Jiji Press