While in Japan for Emperor Naruhito’s Enthronement Ceremony, Grand Duke Henri undertook some engagements in the country. Specifically, the Grand Duke visited the Japanese company FANUC in the prefecture of Yamanashi alongside Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Jean Asselborn.
While there, they received explanations from Dr Yoshiharu Inaba – son of FANUC founder and Director-General – about their robotic machines and automation.
The company is one of the leading Japanese companies manufacturing industrial automation, robots and robotic machines. It employs over 1300 people in Europe, including 230 in Luxembourg.
The Grand Ducal Court explained in a press release, “Since its inception in 1956, Dr Seiuemon Inaba, founder and honorary president of FANUC, has been the pioneer of machine tool automation through the development of CNC equipment. Today, the European market represents around 20% of FANUC’s global turnover and its European headquarters (now FANUC Europe Corporation SA) was created in 1982 in Echternach.“
The Grand Duke’s trip also included a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and His Royal Highness concluded his visit to Japan yesterday with a trip to silk workshop “Mori Silk Factory” in Akiruno.
Grand Duke Henri and the Luxembourgish ministers were able to highlight and honour the bilateral relations and economic relationship between Japan and Luxembourg during the short visit.
Grand Duke Henri was last in Japan for a three-day state visit in November 2017 alongside his daughter, Princess Alexandra, who stood in for her mother, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. The Grand Duchess pulled out due to her fear of flying.
