Philippine President Marcos Jr. to Visit Japan May 26-29

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines will undertake a state visit to Japan from May 26 to 29, marking the first such trip by a Philippine leader in nearly a decade, according to an announcement from Malacañang Palace.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will be received by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for a welcome ceremony, state call, and state banquet. The president is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to advance the Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership, established in 2015. Discussions will build on recent conversations about international developments, with a focus on energy security, food security, and maritime security in the region.

The visit also includes meetings with Japanese business leaders and members of the Filipino community in Japan. It coincides with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations, which began on July 23, 1956. The last state visit to Japan by a Philippine president was by Benigno Aquino III in June 2015, while Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko last visited the Philippines in January 2016.