President Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio attend the ceremony of the enthronement of the Emperor of Japan in Tokyo

Keisari Naruhito ja keisarinna Masako toivottivat tervetulleiksi tiistai-illan juhlapäivälliselle.
Kuva: Secretariat for the Ceremonies of Imperial Succession

President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio visited Japan 21–23 October 2019. On Tuesday, 22 October, they attended the ceremony of the enthronement of the Emperor of Japan Naruhito.

The presidential couple took part in the official ceremonies and a gala dinner hosted by the Imperial Couple at the Imperial Palace. President Niinistö’s programme also included a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister as well as other meetings.

Additionally, Mrs Haukio visited the Moominvalley theme park in the city of Hanno. The items on display during the visit will reflect Tove Jansson’s cultural legacy.

The presidential couple’s previous visit to Japan took place in 2016 when they also met Japan’s former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko paid a visit to Finland last July to celebrate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan.