Marcos invites Japan emperor, empress to visit Philippines

TOKYO — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has invited Japan’s imperial couple to visit the Philippines.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos were given a royal audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on the second day of his working visit here.

“This afternoon, the First Lady and I also had the distinct honor of having an audience with Their Majesties The Emperor [Naruhito] and Empress [Masako] of Japan,” Marcos said in his remarks during the documents exchange ceremony with Philippine and Japanese officials at the Prime Minister's Office.

“We had a memorable conversation and I deeply appreciate the Imperial audience accorded to me and the First Lady. I have extended an invitation to Their Majesties to visit the Philippines at the most convenient time,” he added.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos conveyed the affection and admiration of the Filipino people, including the estimated 300,000 Filipinos who considered Japan their second home.

Marcos is in Japan for an official working visit, where at least seven key agreements were signed in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture and digital cooperation.

The President has earlier secured billions of pesos worth of investment pledges from Japanese companies engaged in semi-conductors, electronics and wiring harness, which are expected to generate at least 10,000 jobs.

Based on the latest statistics published by Japan’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) as of June 2022, there is an estimated population of 297,262 Filipinos living in Japan, making Filipinos Japan’s fourth largest foreign community.

Of the estimated number of overseas Filipinos in Japan, 226,057 or 76% are permanent residents, special permanent residents, spouse/child of Japanese, spouse/child of permanent resident, and long-term residents. —NB, GMA Integrated News