Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Emperor Naruhito met with heads of state from seven countries, including Jordan and Qatar, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on September 28, taking advantage of their presence in Japan for the state funeral of former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.

Shortly after 9 am, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Palau’s Surangel Whipps, Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe began to arrive at the palace every 20 minutes to meet with the Emperor, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

The Emperor expressed his gratitude for coming to Japan to attend the state funeral, and they talked about environmental issues and the role of the Imperial family in bilateral relations for about two and a half hours, the Agency said.

“A senior official of the Imperial Household Agency consulted with His Majesty about the risk factor of coronavirus; however, the Emperor decided to shake hands with each leader,” the Imperial Household Agency said.  “I have never seen the Emperor meet individually with so many heads of state.”

The Emperor met with each head of state for about 10 minutes at the Imperial Palace “Takenoma,” and the meetings ended shortly after noon.