Emperor of Japan Receives Germany’s Chancellor Merkel

Emperor Akihito today welcomed the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, to the Imperial Palace for an audience during her visit to Japan.

During the meeting, which lasted 20 minutes, the pair spoke of their desire for conflicts around the world – namely in Ukraine – to end peacefully, and that the marking of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War would help create an “era free of war”. They also discussed the effects of climate change.

The Emperor offered the Chancellor his condolences over the death of former German President Richard von Weizsaecker, who passed away at the end of January. He told Merkel about the time he walked through the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin with the late President during a visit to Germany in 1993.

Chancellor Merkel went on to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and urged Japan to “mention the war” and not close its eyes to the past if it wants to improve relations with its neighbours during a speech at the Asahi Shimbun headquarters.

Filed under Japan
Tagged Audience, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Emperor Akihito of Japan, Germany, Official Visit, Prime Minister Abe of Japan.

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