L’Empereur Naruhito et l’Impératrice Masako en visite d’État en Belgique, reçus par le Roi Philippe et la Reine Mathilde

126th Emperor of Japan (ascended 1 May 2019); studied at Oxford 1983-85; 65 years old

Naruhito is Emperor of Japan. He acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May 2019 following the abdication of his father, Akihito. He is the 126th monarch, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign is known as the Reiwa era.

Empress of Japan; former diplomat with Japan's Foreign Ministry; Harvard and Oxford-educated; speaks English, French, German

Keizerin Masako is de vrouw van keizer Naruhito, en is sinds 1 mei 2019 keizerin van Japan. Ze gaf een succesvolle carrière op door te trouwen met de toenmalige kroonprins.

King of the Belgians since 2013; head of state of Belgium; host of the state visit

Philippe Léopold Louis Marie is King of the Belgians, and is the eldest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola. He succeeded his father upon the former's abdication for health reasons on 21 July 2013. He married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in 1999, with whom he has four children. Their eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, is first in the line of succession.

Queen consort of Belgium; co-host of the Imperial state visit

Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz is Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Philippe.

Manages the official programme and protocol of the Imperial family's state visits

The Imperial Household Agency (IHA) is an agency of the government of Japan in charge of state matters concerning the Imperial Family, and the keeping of the Privy Seal and State Seal of Japan. From around the 8th century AD until the Second World War, it was known as the Imperial Household Ministry .

European headquarters based in Brussels; largest Japanese corporate employer in Belgium

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, overseeing operations across Europe and Western Asia, including Turkey, Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and the Caucasus. TME’s activities encompass research and development, manufacturing, sales, marketing, after-sales, and various corporate functions. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, TME commenced operations in 1963.