"Empress Masako will accompany Japanese Emperor Naruhito on his visit to the Bogor Presidential Palace to meet with President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana," deputy for protocol, press, and media at the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin, told journalists in Jakarta on Saturday.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako landed at Soekarno Hatta International, Tangerang, Banten, around 4:20 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Standard Time) on Saturday for a state visit to Indonesia.
The emperor is also scheduled to visit a number of places such as Lebak Bulus MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) Depo, Pluit Reservoir Pumping Station, and Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java.
Related news: Japan's Emperor Naruhito to visit Indonesia
The visit marks Naruhito's first-ever visit to Indonesia since he was crowned as the 126th Emperor of Japan in 2019. He and his spouse will stay in Indonesia for a week before heading back to Tokyo, Japan, on Friday.
Upon their arrival at the airport, the couple was welcomed by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, and Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Kanasugi Kenji.
In a press release issued by the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Indonesia has repeatedly invited the emperor to visit the country, including on the occasion of Widodo’s visit to Tokyo in July 2022.
"I am confident that this visit will further bolster the sound level of friendship and cooperation with Indonesia, and I, along with the people of Japan, feel a tremendous joy," Kishida added.
Related news: President Jokowi to invite Emperor of Japan to visit Indonesia
Translator: Indra Arief, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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