Japan's Emperor and Empress arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam
The State-level visit to Vietnam of Japan's Emperor and Empress takes place from February 28th to March 5th in the context when the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership is growing deeply and comprehensively in various fields, such as politics, economics, security and defense, agriculture and culture.
As the visit features bilateral friendship, the Emperor and Empress will focus on cultural exchanges, friendly talks and sightseeing in the two big Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Hue.
Emperor Akihito ascended the throne on January 7th 1989, and became the 125th king of Japan after Emperor Hirohito passed away. As stated in the Japanese Constitution, the Emperor is "the symbol of the State and the unity of the Japanese."
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| Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have arrived at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo by Reuters |
Emperor Akihito was born on December 23rd 1933. He is the first son but the fifth child of the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) and Empress Kōjun (Nagako).
He attended primary and secondary school at Gakushuin, a Peer's school, which used to be the Royal Internal Affair School.
During war, he had to evacuate from Tokyo to Nikko and stayed their till the world war ended in 1945. In 1952, Emperor Akihito studied at Politics and Economics Department of Gakushuin University.
Besides official education, Emperor Akihito (Crown Prince at that time) also took special training programs on history, Japanese laws and others.
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Empress Michiko was born on October 20th 1934 as the eldest daughter of businessman Hidesabuto and Fumiko Shoda. Shoda family is excellent at both business and academic field. Two family's members have received the Cultural Medal, the highest medal awarded by the King for artists and scholars.
With a humble and kind personality, Empress Michiko has said, as a member of the Royal Family, she wants to always be the one who cares about what happens in society and cares about the needs of people, and to pray for the happiness of all people.
Since taking the throne in 1989, the Emperor and Empress have excellently performed his responsibilities, promoting his position as the symbol of the State and national unity.
Members of the Japanese Royal Family have visited Vietnam, including:
Crown Prince Naruhito visited Vietnam from February 9th, 2009 to 15th at the invitation of Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan. He visited Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Thua Thien Hue and Tien Giang. He was received by State President Nguyen Minh Triet and attended his banquet. Crown Prince Naruhito also attended the opening ceremony of the first Vietnam Festival in Tokyo in 2008.
Prince Akishino and his wife paid an official visit to Vietnam in June 1999, and a personal visit in August 2012 to do research on wild chicken. Prince Akishino also attended the 5th Vietnam Festival in Japan in 2013.
