Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were welcomed as state guests at a banquet held at the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
About 200 people took part in the event on Wednesday evening, which was hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
The guests included members of the Dutch Royal House, government officials and those who have long contributed to exchanges between the two countries.
Emperor Naruhito was dressed in a tailcoat and Empress Masako in a blue dress. Before the banquet, they posed for photos with the Dutch Royal couple in a reception room of the palace. Dutch Princess Catharina-Amalia, the heiress apparent, and other members of the Royal family also joined the photo session.
King Willem-Alexander offered words of welcome at the banquet. He stated he is grateful for the deep friendship between the two families and for the exceptional and enduring bond between their countries.
Emperor Naruhito then delivered his speech. He noted that exchanges between Japan and the Netherlands have continued uninterrupted since they began in 1600, even during the period when Japan was taking an isolationist foreign policy.
He added that this was the result of the exceptional dedication and efforts of both governments and their people.
The Emperor also referred to World War Two, in which Japan and the Netherlands fought each other. He said it is truly a matter of deep sorrow that many people, including numerous civilians, lost their precious lives and were left wounded.
The Emperor stated that people today must remain humble in learning from the past and ensure that such sadness is never repeated by passing on the tragic experiences and hardships to future generations.
On Sunday, the Japanese Imperial couple and the Dutch Royal couple watched the Japan-Netherlands match of the men’s World Cup soccer tournament on television together. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Emperor Naruhito said it was a very good match, and that he was relieved that the game ended in a “peaceful” result. He added he is convinced that the match inspired the people of both countries and further strengthened the ties between them.
The Emperor and the Empress will stay in the Netherlands until Saturday before leaving for their next destination, Belgium.