President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will undertake a state visit to Japan from May 26 to 29, accompanied by First Lady Liza Marcos, the Presidential Communications Office announced yesterday. The visit comes as the Philippines and Japan mark the 70th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations this year.
Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will receive President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos at the Imperial Palace for a welcome ceremony, state call, and state banquet, upon the invitation of the Japanese government.
Marcos is set to meet Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to discuss the future of the Philippines-Japan strengthened strategic partnership, including energy and food security as well as maritime security, the PCO said.
The president will also engage with Japanese business leaders and members of the Filipino community. This will be Marcos' fourth trip to Japan as president, after visits in February and December 2023, and June last year for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Nikkei Asia reported that the leaders are expected to discuss cooperation toward a free and open Indo-Pacific and responses to China’s maritime expansion. The last state visit to Japan by a Philippine president was by the late Benigno Simeon Aquino III in June 2015, while Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the Philippines in January 2016. Diplomatic relations were normalized on July 23, 1956, and in 2024, the two countries signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement allowing joint combat training.
