The Embassy of Japan in Manila celebrated the 64th birthday of His Majesty Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, last Feb. 23 with a reception at the Grand Hyatt. Highlight of the festivities were performances by Okinawan traditional dancers.
In his speech, Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa highlighted how the ties between Japan and the Philippines have extended to a wide range of levels. In 2024, the number of tourists from the Philippines to Japan reached a record high of approximately 620,000. Last July, the number was the highest in Asean.
Last year, bilateral relations witnessed a dramatic expansion of cooperation through the leaders’ mutual visits.
Koshikawa also stressed the “heart-to-heart” nature of the two countries’ ties and underscored the joint efforts aimed at peace and defense. He concluded by sharing the Emperor’s wish “for mutual understanding and cooperation in order to build a peaceful world.” —Contributed INQ
