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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko welcomed Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in a ceremony Monday morning at the Imperial Palace also attended by other members of the imperial family including Crown Princess Masako, who made her first appearance for such an official duty in five years.
The Spanish royal couple, who arrived in Japan as state guests Sunday for a six-day visit, also attended a banquet hosted by the emperor and empress at the palace. The banquet was also attended by Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, the emperor's brother Prince Hitachi and his wife, Princess Hanako, as well as Prime Minister Taro Aso and his wife, Chikako. Crown Princess Masako, who is undergoing treatment for a stress-induced illness, refrained from attending the banquet.
© Wire reports
14 Comments
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sensei258
Wish I could be there.
soldave
I hope they were fingerprinted on entry!
Spanishwoman
They were yesterday in the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and they had a reception for us Spanish citizens living in Japan. They gave a brief speech and then mixed with the people and talked and greeted any one who wished to aproach them. I myself shook hands with them and exchanged a few words. Some other people really chatted with them for a while. It is amazing to meet them in person, they are extremely polite but they also are down-to-earth people. I can only be thankful to them for that.
Spanishwoman
In Spain we call them Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía as a form of respect, rather than using simply their names :)
neverknow2
In the real world, we don't care.
GG2141
What in Gods name are they doing to Princess Masako?????
She must be getting pounded with "happy drugs" to stay so quiet for so long.
Tanukisan
I hope they were fingerprinted on entry! - soldave
It is not necessary for diplomats or guests of the crown to be fingerprinted before entering the country.
Schoolboyerror
This means the Spanish Royala, I presume.
A comet is more down to earth than the emperor of Japan.
Samuraiiki
Long live the King of Spain! He had the guts to tell Chavez to shut up.
jerseyboy
Five years between welcoming ceremonies. What a shame and wasted opportunity for the Imperial family.
soldave
Tanukisan - but surely they may be dangerous criminals too?
seesaw
Spanishwoman: English medias in Japan are based on American standard..they don't bother about protocol. That's why the Spanish Royal couple were called just by names....:)
outofmydepth
hey - as an american i take offense seesaw!! when titles are known they are used - much to the chagrin of, say for example, japan when they use the title Emperor and his name Akihito. the japanese say that is an offense because the papers dont use the japanese title. you are danged it you do and danged it you dont.
usaexpat
samuraiiki: right on the money, for that I respect the King, cohones my friends.