{
    "title": "Japanese Emperor and Empress begin state visit to Belgium",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-23 12:24:31",
    "published_at": "2026-06-23 11:50:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/japanese-emperor-and-empress-begin-state-visit-to-belgium",
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    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "japanese-emperor-and-empress-begin-state-visit-to-belgium",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako officially began their state visit to Belgium on Tuesday with a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace in Brussels.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The imperial couple were greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, while a military band played the national anthems of both countries. Around 100 spectators, many of them Japanese, gathered to watch the ceremony.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The visit has attracted significant media attention, as the Japanese imperial couple rarely travel abroad. They arrived in Belgium on Saturday after completing a state visit to the Netherlands.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Later on Tuesday, the Emperor and Empress were due to visit Brussels&rsquo; Grand Place, where they would meet mayor Philippe Close and greet the public from the Town Hall balcony.</p><div id=\"video-b76cea61-fdf7-4c9b-9f16-8b8da146eb7a\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F8462249d-0b00-4f9f-939d-e7ab82c6309d%2FBelgaimage-178774866%2520copy%2520copy.mp4%23_cb1782213821&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen allow=\"encrypted-media *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><p style=\"text-align: center\"><sup>BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU</sup></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Emperor Naruhito is also scheduled to meet prime minister Bart De Wever and senior Belgian politicians before attending a state banquet at Laeken Castle in the evening.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The visit marks 160 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan. Japan is one of Belgium&rsquo;s key economic partners, with more than 280 Japanese companies operating in the country and providing nearly 30,000 jobs.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The imperial couple will remain in Belgium until 25 June.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><sup>King Philippe and Queen Mathilde greet Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako &copy; BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE</sup></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
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