Addresses by His Majesty the Emperor（2026）

Your Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix,
Goedenavond(Good evening),

　It is my enormous pleasure to be visiting your country together with Empress Masako, at your kind invitation as a state guest, and to have the delight of meeting Your Majesties in person once again. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Your Majesties for graciously hosting this beautiful State banquet and for the cordial words of welcome extended to us by His Majesty the King. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Your Majesties as well as to the Dutch people, for the tremendous efforts you have made in preparation for our visit.

　My first visit to your country was in 1984, during the time I spent studying in the UK. Although it was a private visit, I have fond memories of being kindly received at the airport by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, who was a teenaged Crown Prince at the time, and of sailing on Queen Beatrix’s private yacht on Lake Ijssel, in the company of Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, who was Her Majesty the Queen at the time, as well as the late Prince Claus, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Prince Constantijn. Since then, I have had the honour of being invited to the beautiful wedding of Your Majesties in 2002 and to the magnificent Investiture in 2013. It was a great pleasure for the Empress and me to be able to offer our congratulations in person. Furthermore, in 2006, at the generous invitation of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, I, together with my wife Masako and our daughter Aiko, were very fortunate to enjoy tremendously our summer holidays at Het oude Loo. We received such thoughtful considerations from Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix and Your Majesties the King and the Queen, as well as the people of the Netherlands during our stay. The warm hospitality and the care we received there made the relaxing and enjoyable stay in the beautiful setting of Het Loo even more special, and the unforgettable memories of our happy stay remain in the special place in our hearts to this day. We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again for your kindness on that occasion.

　Masako and I were also truly delighted and grateful to be able to spend a few days at the beloved Het oude Loo again this time at the kind invitation of Your Majesties the King and the Queen. There was a happy surprise for us upon arrival to Het oude Loo, namely, to be greeted again by koi-carps that my parents had donated, and Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, together with His Majesty the King, had released in the moat in 1980, and also by the black swan that our daughter Aiko was feeding bread almost every day during our stay 20 years ago. We were happy to see them all joyfully eat the bread we were offering this time once again. When we told our daughter Aiko in Tokyo about her old black swan friend and the koi-carps, as well as about seeing some of the same staff members that had taken care of us at Het oude Loo the last time, Aiko was quite surprised and says she is very touched.

　The relations between our two countries began when the Dutch vessel “De Liefde” drifted ashore in Japan in 1600, after a voyage fraught with difficulties. Even during the period when Japan adopted a policy of national isolation, exchanges between the two countries never ceased. For over 200 years, the narrow, five-metre-wide bridge to Dejima island in Nagasaki served as a link between Japan, the Netherlands and the Western world. We, the Japanese, learned about Western technology and culture, whilst the Dutch trading post there introduced Japanese crafts such as Imari ware and lacquerware to Europe, which in turn had a significant influence on your country’s Delftware, and as such, we influenced each other. The long-standing exchanges between our two countries are nothing less than the fruit of the extraordinary enthusiasm and efforts of the governments and people of both countries.

　In the year 2000, events commemorating the 400th anniversary of Japan-Netherlands exchange were held throughout Japan. Your Majesty the King, then the Crown Prince, kindly visited Japan on that occasion. Attending the commemorative ceremonies held in Nagasaki and Oita alongside Your Majesty was a precious opportunity to reflect on this long history of exchanges between our two countries.

　As we look back on the long history of friendship and exchange between our two countries, we must, at the same time, never forget that there was once a time of suffering. It is truly sad that many precious lives were lost and many people were injured, including a large number of civilians, during the last world war. We must always strive to be modest in learning from our past history, listen to the pains and sorrows of the people with compassion, and must pass on our tragic experiences and hardships to future generations so that such sorrow is never repeated. Bearing in mind that there are those who continue to bear the pain of that time to this day, we must continue earnestly our efforts for peace.

　After the last world war, Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix visited Japan as a state guest on two occasions, in 1963 and 1991. In 2000, my parents, Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, paid a state visit to your country. These visits thankfully fostered mutual understanding and trust between the people of our two countries. I express, together with the Empress, my deepest respect and gratitude to Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, Your Majesties the King and the Queen, and the many others who have devoted immeasurable efforts to building friendship between our two countries. I sincerely hope that our two countries will continue to walk together for peace in the future.

　In this connection, I would like to pay tribute to your country’s commitment to promoting an international order based on ‘the rule of law’. Tomorrow, I plan to visit The Hague, which is known as ‘the capital of international law’, and to visit there the Peace Palace. The Netherlands is the birthplace of Grotius, known as ‘the father of international law’, and home to various international courts and organisations, including the International Court of Justice(ICJ). We have had a personal connection with the ICJ, as mentioned by His Majesty the King, Masako’s father, OWADA Hisashi, served as a judge at the ICJ for 15 years until 2018 and as its President for 3 years, and I would like to express our deep gratitude to Your Royal Highness Princess Beatrix and Your Majesties the King and the Queen for extending warmest considerations to Masako’s parents during that time.

　Tomorrow, I will also visit Leiden University, an academic institution with deep ties to Japan. Academic exchanges with Japan continue to this day at the University, centred on the Department of Japanese Studies, which was established in 1855 and is Europe’s oldest centre for Japanese studies. I look forward to the opportunity to talk with students and scholars concerning exchanges between Japan and the Netherlands.

　When we look at notable achievements of exchanges between our two countries that have been passed down to the present day, flood control is one good example. While both Japan and the Netherlands benefit from the blessings of water, we have also had to face threats from floods and storm surges. Dutch engineers, including Van Doorn, Escher and De Rijke, made significant contributions to the building of Japan’s national land infrastructure in the latter half of the nineteenth century, including flood control, canal erosion control and port development. Their achievements are still cherished throughout Japan to this day. When His Majesty the King visited our country in 2010, we went together to see the Tone Canal which was designed and supervised by the Dutch engineer Mulder. A monument stands on the site in honour of his achievements.

　Today, together with His Majesty, I visited Deltares, a research institute specialising in applied hydraulic and geotechnical engineering in Delft. I was deeply impressed by your country’s wisdom and tireless efforts in co-existing with water, as well as by the numerous future-oriented research projects. It also reminded me of how, through bodies such as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, I have had the pleasure of working with Your Majesty on international activities concerning water issues. I am delighted that Japan and the Netherlands have become partners who will make a widespread contribution to the world in this field.

　Throughout the history of our nations’ exchange, medical science has also played a vital role. Many figures with Dutch connections, such as von Siebold, Pompe and Baudouin, who came to Japan during the Edo period, contributed to the development of Japanese medical science. We are planning this time to visit the Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, in which Your Majesty the Queen is passionately engaged, and I hope that research cooperation between Japan and the Netherlands will be put to good use for the sake of our children’s future.

　Sport is another field in which exchanges between our two countries are growing deeper. In speed skating, for example, many Japanese athletes base themselves here for training, and I am touched to see that the Dutch people offer warm cheers when these athletes compete successfully in races. Furthermore, in football, there are currently nine Japanese players playing in the Eredivisie, the professional league in the Netherlands. And as for the FIFA World Cup match between Japan and the Netherlands on Sunday, Masako and I had the pleasure of watching it on television together with Your Majesties the King and the Queen accompanied by their beloved little poodle Mambo, upon their kind proposal. The game turned out to be an excellent match, and I must say I was relieved by the peaceful result. I am certain that the game served as an opportunity to inspire the people of our two countries and bring them even closer.

　In today’s world, we are deeply interconnected across borders in many ways, yet we face a range of challenging global issues, including climate change. Against this backdrop, I am truly delighted that there are numerous areas in which the people of Japan and the Netherlands are working together to lead global initiatives. I earnestly hope that we will join hands to further broaden the scope of our cooperation and strengthen our efforts for the sake of the young people and children who will shoulder the next generation.

　In my hope that Japan and the Netherlands will continue to build a lasting relationship of friendship and cooperation, may I propose a toast to the continued health of Your Majesties the King and the Queen, to the further prosperity of our two countries and to the lasting happiness of our people.

Proost!(Cheers!)

Your Majesty, Your Excellency, distinguished guests,

I would like to express my deep gratitude for the warm words of welcome just extended by Prime Minister Jetten.

Stable cooperation is under way between Japan and your country in a wide range of fields, including politics, economy, culture, arts, science, technology and education.
I would like to express my sincere respect for the efforts undertaken by Prime Minister Jetten and many others in your country to strengthen the friendship between our two peoples.

I am also delighted that ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, which I had the pleasure of viewing earlier, will be on display at the ‘Vermeer Exhibition’ in Osaka in Japan from August this year. Many people in Japan are looking forward to seeing Vermeer’s magnificent paintings up close.

It is my sincere hope that, building upon the long-standing relationship between our two countries spanning over 400 years, we will further enrich the bonds of friendship and cooperation between us and deepen them for the sake of the young people and children who will lead the next generation.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the hospitality extended to us during this visit, and raise a toast to the good health of Your Majesty the King and Your Excellency the Prime Minister, and to the enduring friendship between our two countries.

Your Majesty King Philippe, Your Majesty Queen Mathilde, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bonsoir, Goedenavond,

We would like to express our deepest gratitude for hosting such a splendid banquet this evening, and for your most heartwarming words of welcome we have just received from His Majesty the King. In this memorable year marking the 160th anniversary of friendship between Japan and Belgium, I am delighted to visit Belgium as a State Guest with the Empress at the invitation of Your Majesties the King and the Queen, and to have the opportunity to further deepen our friendship with Your Majesties.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Your Majesties, as well as to the people of Belgium, for the gracious consideration and efforts that they have shown in realizing our visit.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude for the kind invitation extended by Your Majesties to spend last weekend at the beautiful Ciergnon Castle.

My first visit to Belgium was in 1976, exactly 50 years ago. On that occasion, I had the opportunity to stay at d’Aertrycke Castle, located on the outskirts of Bruges, where my mother had stayed when she was a student, and I was most warmly received by the members of the de Maere d’Aertrycke family, who had also extended their kindness to my mother.

I also recall with fondness that, at the invitation of Their Majesties the then King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola, I visited their villa in Motril, Spain, where I was graciously treated as though I were a member of their family.

While studying in the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1985, I had several occasions to visit Belgium at the invitation of Their Majesties King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. On those occasions, I attended the wedding ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid and enjoyed the Queen Elisabeth Competition accompanying Her Majesty the Queen Fabiola.

In 1984, I was also invited to the Castle of Laeken when my parents, Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Emerita, visited Belgium en route to Africa, as Crown Prince and Crown Princess. I spent a most pleasant time here in the company of His Majesty King Baudouin, Her Majesty Queen Fabiola, His Royal Highness Prince Albert-the King’s brother-and Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and it remains a fond memory of mine to this day.

After my marriage to Masako, at your invitation, we attended the wedding of Your Majesty King Philippe, then Crown Prince, in 1999. On that occasion, I had the pleasure of meeting Your Majesty Queen Mathilde for the first time, and since then, we have enjoyed a close relationship with Their Majesties.

I have been pleased to have had further opportunities to meet Your Majesties and to visit some places in Tokyo together, when Your Majesties visited Japan including during your visit leading a Belgian economic mission.

The longstanding ties between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Belgian Royal Family date back to 1921, when my grandfather, His Majesty Emperor Shōwa, visited Belgium while he was Crown Prince.

I have been told that, in 1953, while attending the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Britain, my father, His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus who was then young Crown Prince, first met His Royal Highness Prince Albert who was also attending the coronation, as young members of imperial and royal families of the same generation.

Later in the course of my father’s journey, His Majesty King Baudouin invited him to the Castle of Laeken. This marked the beginning of their close friendship. Today, this serves as the foundation for relations between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Belgian Royal Family.

Interestingly, King Leopold III, who is Your Majesty King Philippe’s grandfather, and my grandfather, Emperor Shōwa, were both born in 1901; His Majesty King Albert II, Your Majesty’s father, and my father were born in 1934 and 1933 respectively, just one year apart; Your Majesty King Philippe and I were both born in 1960, and furthermore, Your Majesty’s eldest daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth, and our daughter, Aiko, were both born in 2001. I feel a close bond through this connection spanning four generations.

Your Majesty King Philippe has already visited Japan twelve times, including in 2019, when Your Majesties attended the Ceremony of my Enthronement. I am delighted that, through this state visit by the Empress and myself to your country, we are able to add a new page of friendship to this long history of exchanges.

The friendly relations between Japan and Belgium began with the signing of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation in 1866. In order to learn from Western institutions and technologies and to promote its modernization, Japan dispatched a mission to twelve countries, eleven European countries including Belgium and the United States of America, from 1871 to 1873.

According to the Mission’s reports, Belgium, still in the early years after independence, was depicted as having a hardworking population and flourishing industry and trade, and appeared to be a model for Japan which was then beginning its economic and industrial development.

Subsequently, as your country became an important political and economic hub in Europe in the process of European integration, many Japanese companies established their operations here, and the ties between our countries have continued to grow stronger.

Furthermore, I am encouraged to see that, in recent years, cooperation between our countries has been further strengthened in emerging fields for the future, such as hydrogen, offshore wind power,semiconductors and the life sciences.

I understand that, in May of 2024, Your Majesty King Philippe personally organised a business roundtable with Japanese companies and listened attentively to their views on various issues. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Your Majesty.

In addition, there are active exchanges between our countries in a variety of fields. I am delighted to see that exchanges in the fields of art and culture are flourishing, for example, as demonstrated by the outstanding achievements of Japanese candidates at the longestablished Queen Elisabeth Competition. Furthermore, many young and talented Japanese football players are making their mark in the Belgian Pro League.

In 2002, when Japan and the Republic of Korea co-hosted the FIFA World Cup, Your Majesties were visiting Japan and joined us to watch an exciting match between Japan and Belgium. It is a cherished memory for the Empress and me.

I am not certain, if our two countries will play each other during the World Cup now under way, I would like to wish both national teams every success.

This morning, I had the opportunity to meet with Japanese and Belgian students at the historic City Hall of Brussels.
I look forward to visiting Namur in the Wallon region and Leuven in the Flemish region tomorrow. I hope to experience Belgium’s rich regional culture and to interact with the younger generation.

As long-standing and valued friends, it is my sincere hope that Japan and Belgium will continue to forge lasting bonds of friendship and cooperation. May I now propose a toast to the good health of Their Majesties, to the enduring friendship between Japan and Belgium, and to the lasting happiness of the people of our countries.

Proost!　Santé !