Japan's Emperor Naruhito meets Latvian, Bulgarian presidents
TOKYO -- Emperor Naruhito met with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 19, during their visits to Japan to attend Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Emperor asked the Latvian president about measures to preserve the historic and beautiful cityscape of Latvia's capital, Riga, and also discussed the culture of the country, which has produced many renowned musicians.
With the Bulgarian president, the conversation touched on the 1970 Osaka Expo, where Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako, posthumously known as Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun, sampled yogurt at the Bulgaria Pavilion, a rare treat in Japan at the time. Emperor Naruhito himself shared a childhood memory of eating yogurt made from a starter culture.
Both meetings were described as amicable.
In line with national days being celebrated at the Expo, numerous foreign dignitaries are visiting Japan, and the Emperor is expected to continue meeting with international leaders.
(Japanese original by Nao Yamada, Tokyo City News Department)
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