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Sweden

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia conclude trip to Japan

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia have concluded their official visit to Japan. Their Majesties spent their final day with a visit to Keidanren and a trip to the Business Sweden’s seminar Future of Healthcare.

Their day began with separate programmes with His Majesty visiting Japan’s leading business organisation, Keidan’s headquarters. The King met representatives from the organisation and heard speeches from Mr Nakanishi, Vice-President of Keidan (speaking on innovation) and Mr Ochi from the Keidan European Committee (speaking on EU/Japanese relations).

Photo: Said Karlsson, Kungahuset.se/Instagram

At the same time, Her Majesty was at the Future of Healthcare seminar at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo. According to the Royal Court, “The seminar provided an opportunity for Swedish and Japanese companies in medicine to discuss the future health care in the field of e-health and digitalisation.”

The afternoon saw the King and Queen reunite for events beginning with a visit to the ancient Samurai town of Kamakura. The “Living Lab for Active Ageing” project located in the town is in collaboration between Linnaeus University, Johanneberg Science Park and the University of Tokyo. Carl Gustaf and Silvia also had the opportunity to visit a traditional Japanese Minka house where they were able to speak to architect and representative of the Association for the Preservation of Old Japanese Farmhouses, Yoshihiro Takishita.

Their visit concluded in the evening with a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe and his wife at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. King Carl XVI Gustaf spoke during the meal about the friendship between Japan and Sweden, as well as the Swedish Royal Family and Japanese Imperial Family.

Photo: Said Karlsson, Kungahuset.se/Instagram

“During these last few days, Her Majesty and I have once again had the pleasure of renewing our strong bonds with Japan and with the Imperial Family. As always in your country, we have been received with outstanding warmth and hospitality,” he said.

The King concluded his remarks saying, “Mister Prime Minister and Mrs Abe: Thank you for a most rewarding visit. It is my sincere hope that this anniversary will be a stepping stone to even stronger relations between Japan and Sweden. Ladies and gentlemen: Thank you all for your endeavours in bringing our two countries closer together. Thank you, and more importantly: Keep up the good work!

“Let me propose a toast. As we say in Sweden: Skål!”

Their Majesties now return home to Sweden where they will celebrate the King’s birthday on 30 April at Stockholm Palace.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.