Trump May Become 1st Foreign Leader to Meet Japan's New Emperor

Tokyo, Dec. 4 (Jiji Press)--U.S. President Donald Trump may become the first foreign leader to meet Japan's new Emperor, who is slated to assume the throne in May 2019, Japanese government sources said Tuesday. The government is considering inviting Trump as a state guest ahead of a Group of 20 summit in Osaka, western Japan, on June 28-29 that year, the sources said. The gathering will follow Crown Prince Naruhito's rise to the Chrysanthemum Throne planned for May 1. During the envisaged trip by Trump, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to discuss ways to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance. The government apparently aims to highlight the bond of the two countries by receiving Trump as a state guest soon after the Imperial succession. But such a move may be criticized as an attempt to use the Imperial Family for political purposes. Regarding the Imperial succession, Trump said in his summit with Abe in Argentina on Friday: "I'll be going to a tremendous event in Japan. I was very honored to be invited." Japan usually invites two state guests or so in a year. When receiving a state guest, Japan fires a salute at the time of arrival and holds a series of events, including a welcome ceremony and a banquet at the Imperial Palace. Before such a guest leaves Japan, the Emperor visits the place where the guest stays to say farewell. Among events related to Crown Prince Naruhito's accession following Emperor Akihito's abdication on April 30, 2019, the government plans to invite foreign guests to the "Sokuirei Seiden no Gi" ceremony to proclaim the enthronement and "Kyoen no Gi" celebration banquets, both planned for October that year. No foreigners will be invited to accession-related events on May 1 that year. END