Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrive in Belgium for state visit with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are in Belgium on an official state visit, received at the Royal Palace by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde — a rare Imperial visit marking 160 years of Japan-Belgium diplomatic relations and signalling Japan's…

Belgium Impulse Editorial·23 June 2026·3 min read·

Developing· 1 primary source · some details remain unconfirmed

In 30 seconds

Emperor Naruhito, 65, is the 126th Emperor of Japan. He ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May 2019 following his father Akihito's abdication — the first Japanese Imperial abdication in approximately 200 years.
Empress Masako, 62, is a former diplomat with Japan's Foreign Ministry. She holds a BA in economics from Harvard and studied European public law at Oxford. She speaks English, French and German.
Japan and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1866 — among the earliest that Meiji-era Japan formed with European nations.
Japan is Belgium's largest non-EU Asian trading partner. Bilateral trade is estimated at over 4 billion euros annually.

is the 126th Emperor of Japan and head of state of the world's third-largest economy. He and are on an official state visit to Belgium — the most formal category of diplomatic visit, involving a full programme of official receptions, meetings with the head of government, a state dinner, and often a joint communiqué.

Background

1866: Japan and Belgium sign their first Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation — among Meiji Japan's earliest formal diplomatic agreements with a European nation. 1885: Japan establishes a permanent diplomatic mission in Brussels. 1952: Belgium is among the first European nations to re-establish full diplomatic relations with Japan after the San Francisco Peace Treaty. 1985: Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko visit Belgium in a landmark royal exchange. 2019: Naruhito ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May — the first Japanese Emperor to succeed following his father's historic abdication, the first in approximately 200 years. 2021: The Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) enters full force, eliminating most tariffs between Japan and EU member states including Belgium. 2023: Japan-EU Security Partnership upgraded; Belgium formally supports Japan's Indo-Pacific posture and Japan-NATO cooperation framework. 23 June 2026: Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are received by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Royal Palace of Brussels in an official state visit.

Who’s affectedBelgian businesses with Japanese partnersJapanese community in Belgium (est. 5,000+)EU diplomatic communityTourism and hospitality sector

Context & what happens next

What to do

Belgian businesses with Japanese partners should note that state visits typically generate a window of heightened diplomatic attention that can accelerate pending negotiations and agreements. Companies in pharmaceuticals, agri-food, automotive components, and professional services operating in both markets may find this a favourable moment to advance discussions at ministerial level. For Belgian residents of Japanese heritage or with family ties to Japan, the visit is an opportunity for community events aligned with the Imperial programme.

Impact

Regional — Japanese corporations are significant economic actors in Belgium. Toyota's European headquarters in Brussels employs hundreds of staff. Mitsubishi, Panasonic, and Honda all maintain Belgian operations. Japanese tourism — particularly to Bruges, Brussels and the Ardennes — contributes tens of millions of euros annually to Belgian hospitality revenues. The estimated 5,000 Japanese nationals living in Belgium represent a stable, long-established community with professional ties to EU institutions, Japanese multinationals, and diplomatic missions. The visit is expected to yield a joint communiqué on trade facilitation and bilateral cultural exchange.

How we got here

1866
Japan and Belgium sign the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation — one of the first such agreements Meiji Japan concluded with a European nation.
1885
Japan establishes a permanent diplomatic mission in Brussels, one of its earliest in Europe.
1952
Belgium re-establishes full diplomatic relations with Japan after the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
1985
Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko (later Emperor and Empress) visit Belgium in a landmark royal exchange.
1 May 2019
Emperor Naruhito ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne following his father Akihito's historic abdication — the first in approximately 200 years. Empress Masako is named Empress.