Japanese Royal Visits to Belgium

The Belgian Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family have had a long and close relationship over several generations, which will be further cemented on Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako’s State Visit to Belgium this week, following their State Visit to The Netherlands!

The Belgian Royal Family held a Gala Dinner for Prince and Princess Takamatsu of Japan at the Royal Chateau of Laeken in 1930.

In 1953, then Crown Prince Akihito visited Belgium and was hosted by the Royal Family, as a part of a six-month world tour to attend the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Japanese Imperial Family hosted King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium (wearing her Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara) on their first State Visit to Japan in 1964, which included a State Banquet at the Imperial Palace and a Return Banquet at the Belgian Embassy in Tokyo.

In 1971, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola (in the Nine Provinces Tiara) hosted Empress Nagako and Empress Nagako (wearing the Meiji Scroll Tiara) on their State Visit to Belgium, as part of their first Tour of Europe after the Second World War.

King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola became quite close to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and were among the leading guests at the Enthronement of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan in 1990.

Three years later, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the Funeral of King Baudouin in 1993, just weeks before an Official Visit to Belgium, when they were hosted by King Albert II and Queen Paola as well as Queen Fabiola.

In 1996, the Japanese Imperial Family hosted King Albert II, Queen Paola (wearing the Nine Provinces Tiara), and the Duke of Brabant on their State Visit to Japan.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (wearing the Wolfers Necklace Tiara) were received by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on their State Visit to Japan in 2016.

Most recently, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde represented Belgium at the Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Empress Masako in 2019.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were received by the Duchess of Brabant upon arrival in Belgium over the weekend, ahead of the official beginning of the State Visit tomorrow!