Belgian State Visit to Japan: October 9-15, 2016
 

Belgian king, queen to visit Japan in October



Belgian king, queen to visit Japan in October | The Japan Times

Some details about the upcoming state visit from Asahi:
October 11 - welcome ceremony, meeting between the reigning couples, and court dinner
October 12 - visit Yuki, Ibaraki Prefecture (accompanied by Imperial couple, I think) and memorial concert

Apparently, visits to Belgium by the Imperial and CP couple were considered but dropped due to terrorist attacks.

State Visit JAPAN from 9 to 15 October - Strong ties between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Belgian Royal Family: memories of the visit of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola in Japan in 1964. (From the Facebook of the Belgian Monarchy)

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Short video of KIng Baudouin's and Queen Fabiola's visit to Japan in 1964.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZhytSHgy7E


Another video of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola apparently arriving in Tokyo after leaving from some unclear location. Interestingly, bowing and curtsying to KIng and Queen are still observed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPji_JdBpY

The King is going alone and Mr Didier Renders , our Minister of Foreign Affairs is not able to attend . He has to stay in Belgium for belgian politic urgent affairs.(our Budget)
Who will go with the King ? a Minister of State ?. That will be the first time.

when you say alone do you mean that queen mathilde isn't going with him or you were talking about politicians ?

The monarchy's website still says the Queen is going, so idk.

Sorry The Queen is going .

"Odd" in which regard, please?

I´m very much looking forward to this particular visit. Other than the Cambridges to Canada there´ll be lots of bling bling and monarchial glamour.;)

State visit to JAPAN from 9 to 15 October- Strong ties between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Belgian Royal Family: official visit to Japan King Baudouin with Prince Phillippe in 1985.

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Departure of the Kings for the state visit to Japan

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I'm looking foward to many wonderful photos!


** belga gallery departure - October 9 **


** deredactie.be video: King Filip and Queen Mathilde off to Japan **


And more from today:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** belga gallery arrival **


** belga gallery: JAPAN ROYALS STATE VISIT DAY 1 **

The Kings arrives to Tokyo to start a state visit after the invitation of the emperor and empress.

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Day 1 : Nezu Shrine, 1 of the oldest & most beautiful Shinto worship places in Tokyo

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Meeting the Belgian community in Japan at the Belgian embassy inTokyo.

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The Queens seems to wear a quiet big multicoloured broosh at the arrival. Has shew woorn it before? Or is it something new?

She has worn it before in Davos in 2015.

Getty Images: Belgian Royals State Visit To Japan

Probably because the official welcome ceremony will be tomorrow and not direct after the arrival.
Is there anything known if CP Masako will atttend the State Banquet tomorrow.

thank you for including these pictures. always nice to see
:flowers:

According to Mainichi, CP Masako attended the welcoming ceremony. Google translation:
She attended the official banquet for the Filipino President last year so it's possible she’ll attend tonight. Not sure if any announcement was made that time.

Some welcoming ceremony photos and video:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...01074_comm.jpg

small Sankei, Asahi galleries

news.tbs.co.jp, fnn-news, NHK, and ANN videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubz_A4qd3Zw

ETA: added fnn-news, NHK, and Asahi links

ETA2: Accueil officiel des souverains belges à Tokyo - Noblesse & Royautés

And later King Phillippe have Lunch with CEOs of leading Japanese companies

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and Queen Mathilde visit the Toho Gakuen school of Music

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and visit Belgian fashion design inspired by Japanese creations

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A short additional article with pics of the welcome ceremony:


** dailymail: Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visiting Japan **


A gallery of the first events:


** pm: Mathilde et Philippe sont arrivés au Japon **



A gallery of day 2:


** belga gallery: JAPAN ROYALS STATE VISIT DAY 2 **



And a Twitter pic of the state banquet!


The Palace also released a copy of the speech King Philippe held at the banquet today:


** monarchie.be: Speech by His Majesty the King of the Belgians at the State Banquet **

Very good to see the Crownprincess attending.

It looks like Queen Mathilde is wearing the Woolfers tiara. I hope we'll soon see more banquet pic.

I´m really surprised the Queen wore this small, not very spectacular tiara for a visit in an empire. But I guess she knew beforehand the Empress didn´t wear one once again so she didn´t want to "show off"?!
The empress not wearing a tiara possibly because of health reasons might be understandable - but she didn´t wear any decorations at a state banquet while everyone else did, because....?!?

CP Masako was present and wore the modern fringe like diamond and pearl tiara

All other princesses wore big jewels. Compared with the imperial princesses, Mathilde was a bit underbejewelled.

They always wear their full Parures with tiara and mirrored necklace. The only exception is the Empress who has stopped wearing tiaras a few years ago on the advice of her doctors. Therefore i find it surprising that Queen Mathilde did nor wear some additional Jewels and a bigger tiara.

The CP and Akishino couples:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05162_comm.jpg

CP Masako:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05157_comm.jpg

Princesses Mako and Kako:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05152_comm.jpg

Princess Kako:
https://www.sankei.com/images/news/16...0110015-p5.jpg

Mrs. Sayako Kuroda:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05169_comm.jpg

Sources: Asahi, Sankei

Impressive outings by the imperial princesses.

I'm pretty sure she knew the Empress would not be wearing a tiara and found it would be rude to wear something bigger.

I really did expect the full version of the "9 Province´s tiara", usually worn in monarchies:ermm:
like this: https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/...re-id173523009

To me Empress Michiko already looks like a widow without being it.

Excellent photos, why is the Empress not wearing a sash?

The Wolfers tiara?
 

Pity Q Mathilde chose to wear a relatively small tiara; probably not to overpower the Empress.
I was hoping to see a big gun,:-( even hoping to see if she inherited another of Q Fabiola's pieces e.g. The Spanish gift tiara!
Oh well, next time.

More important than the dresses , jewels of our Queen Consort :

Normally for State Visits the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs are with the King since the beginning of the Visit.

But we have a difficult Political Situation in Belgium , the important Ministers had to stay in Belgium
The King will have an audiance with the Prime Minister of Japan. He may not speak without our Minister of Foreign affairs who will go to Japan to morrow.
To me the State Visits are obsolete , the Economical Visits are important.
Two Ministers are there since the beginning. Willy Claes our excellent State Minister and Pieter De Crem , Minister of Nothing who had to come back from harvard where he studied since April. But that was not enough.

Just heard , Minister Reynders will not go to Japan due to the actual political Situation.
The Belgian Ambassador in Japan will sign the Document our Minister had to sign. Du jamais vu !

While I love seeing bigger tiaras, I think it appropriate even with imperial princesses in their full jewels she chose a smaller piece. The empress is her counter part at the event, and knowing the empress no longer wears tiaras, it seems a good choice. :flowers:

Belgium's King Philippe (2nd L) and Queen Mathilde (2nd R), Japan's Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko wave to well-wishers upon their arrival at Yuki Information, Communication Center in Yuki, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan October 12, 2016.

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ANP pictures

Tokyo Sky Tree lit with the colors of Belgium's flag:
https://twitter.com/MofaJapan_ITPR/s...82885093474305

IHA translated Emperor Akihito's banquet speech:
Remarks by His Majesty the Emperor at the State Banquet in Honour of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde King and Queen of the Belgians (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)

Waving from the train

Their convoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MQvzFJFiw8

Traditional arts and crafts in Yuki

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Here's a second gallery by gettyimages with the pics from yesterday and today:


** gettyimages gallery **


Today's belga gallery:


** belga gallery: JAPAN ROYALS STATE VISIT DAY 3 **


And some more of today's Twitter pics:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 **



The day ended with a dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Akasaka State Guesthouse.

Here's a link to the speech King Philippe held during the dinner:


** monarchie.be: Speech by His Majesty the King of the Belgians at the dinner..**

Thanks for sharing information, pictures and video clips everyone. :flowers: It’s nice to see how the personal bond between the Imperial family and the Belgian RF remains so strong. For ex. the dinner speeches had a nice personal touch with the emperor reflecting on his encounters with the Belgians for more than 60 years or Michiko and Mathilde linking arms for support.

Also worth to mention: Philippe and Mathilde had a private meting with a Japenese victim of the terror attacs in Brussels on day 1 of this visit.

It probably escaped your notice but State visits turned into economic missions too since a few years. Philippe and Mathilde are accompanied by 120 business people and the whole delegation which also includes academics have done their fair share to promote Belgian businesses and universities in Japan.
It certainly wasn’t helpful though that NO member of the federal government had shown up in Japan so far. The State Secretary of Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem only arrived in Tokio a few minutes ago. Why they thought it would be opportune to have him following a 6-week long course in Harvard while he was needed on the job is quite puzzling. He could have done that in his private time. The foreign minister on the other hand is missing because the Federal government wasn’t able to finish their budget negotiations in due time before the European deadline expires on Oct 15. It’s a self-created mess and its quite pitiable that the politicians can’t pull themselves together for a change.

Mara, Stunning You are so far away and you know all about our political Situation.

This is a real State Visit with the King and the Queen for the 150 years with Japan.
Princess Astrid is going for the Economical Missions.

I beg to differ. There is a large business and academic delegation in attendance. Philippe and Mathilde attended business meetings, networking events and contract signings, pretty much what they had already done during economic missions. Had it been just a traditional state visit with political encounters, sightseeing and cultural events the more or less openly separatist prime minister of Flanders would certainly not have accompanied them. ;)

On itself there were appr. 200-250 non-members of the family enjoying their meal during the banquet...

You’re welcome! It’s wonderful to see Mrs. Kuroda included. I wish more of the family were photographed. The Hitachi couple, Mikasa princesses, and Takamado princesses attended the banquet according to the agenda.

Last night, CP Naruhito and CP Masako visited King Philippe and Queen Mathilde privately.
Source: Asahi reporter Yasuhiko Shima’s tweet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD-CpgbmvJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi9-OKR16dw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RenaKarMrPA

Great seeing these wonderful photos:flowers:

These royal tours as part of trade missions are important. The trade talks and attention it gets will help both countries. Yes the politicians other delegates are incredibly important, but the media that comes with royals is key here too.

On board of a Shinkansen train to Nagoya on day 4 of our State visit to Japan.

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10 millions Japanese cars shipped to Belgium! Belgian ports and Japanese automobile industry work together for innovation.

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Showcase of Belgian products at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Nagoya.

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Visit Tokugawa Art Museum

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Heading back from Nagoya to Tokyo

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First pictures from the concert offered by the Kings in honour of the Emperor and Empress.

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More pics from today, October 13, can be found here:


** gettyimages gallery **


** belga gallery: JAPAN ROYALS STATE VISIT DAY 4 **

Did I miss the return event given by the Belgian royals to their hosts?

I am sooooooo happy to see CP Masako - and that she is joining the State Dinner. She is looking STUNNING! And I have the impression she is feeling better/healthier than ever. Great for her.


The CP and Akishino couples:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05162_comm.jpg

CP Masako:
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...05157_comm.jpg

No, photos of the return event are trickling in from Asahi and Mainichi:

https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/imag...06716_comm.jpg

https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2016/10/...0128000p/9.jpg

ETA: More from the Belgian Monarchy's Facebook page. Yay! Finally, some photos of the Mikasa and Takamado families.
https://www.facebook.com/BeMonarchie...46105678986398

Videos: news.tbs.co.jp and news24.jp

Masako curtsy to the Queen
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Lovely curtsy by Princess Masako !

It's great to see Masako attending, and she seems very at ease with Mathilde and Philippe. Also, it is great that the Belgians offered a concert given how fond the imperial family is of classical music!

Mathilde, who is also a musician herself, shares that trait with the Emperess, so the idea of a concert was a natural choice.

Arrival in Osaka

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Cooperation between Kobe University and Belgian universities in Osaka Day 5

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Luncheon with representatives of the Japanese chemical industry in Osaka promoting investment in Belgium

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Visit Theatre

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In almost all monarchies (and republics) the return-banquet is replaced by a concert, a ballet, an opera or a theatre play. Only so now and then a fullblown white-tie second gala state banquet is still organized, for an example during the State Visit of King Carl XVI Gustaf to Queen Beatrix.

So it is great that the Belgian guests offered a concert, but almost all visiting state guest do so...

What lovely photos thi visited provided us with. And how nice that then crown princess was able to attend several parts of the programme. Nice to see princess Takamado again too, who seems to be a delightful lady.

Good to see the queen wearing mostly Dries van Noten. The quality of his clothes is so much higher and the designs are more interesting. Natan's Eduard Vermeulen did join the visit btw.

:previous:

He did? That's indeed interesting! Hoping for many Japanese customers it seems..;)


Here are more pics from today:


** belga gallery: JAPAN ROYALS STATE VISIT DAY 5 **

Some photos at Sankei Imperial Weekly #456 and Getty Images gallery of the return event

An interesting and busy trip for the Kings! With beuatiful pictures!

https://www.instagram.com/belgianroyalpalace/ …


Queen Mathilde in this state visit in Japan: 5 days, 12 outfits. Chic and Elegant!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuyvFhuWgAAl2Pc.jpg

More threads about the Queen Consort than the King.
He was handsome with the Collar of greatest Japanese Order.
Our King did also a Jogging with the Crown Prince during their Stay..

Good to hear he had time to relax with such a busy program.

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A look back on some of the highlights of the visit:


** pm: Mathilde trinque avec Akihito **


** pm: Mathilde veut tout savoir du Yuki-tsumugi ** translation **

Place Royale’s coverage of the state visit. There’s a glimpse of Princess Tsuguko at the state banquet at 7:02 in the first video.

JAPON Philippe et Mathilde au pays du soleil levant < RTLTVI

JAPON visite d'état au pays du soleil levant < RTLTVI