Duterte’s scheduled meeting with the Japan emperor was cancelled due to death of Akihito’s death.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s courtesy call with Japanese Emperor Akihito due to the passing of the emperor’s uncle.
Duterte’s audience with Akihito was originally set on Thursday afternoon, and this will conclude his three-day official visit in Japan.
However, it was cancelled as the royal family went into mourning following the death of their oldest member, Prince Mikasa, the uncle of Akihito.
According to Japanese media reports, Mikasa, aged 100, was the youngest brother of Japan’s late war-time emperor Hirohito, father of the current emperor.
In a chance interview, Duterte said he respects the Japanese imperial family’s time of mourning.
“I’d like to express my deepest condolence,” the President said.
“The protocol officer…[said] huwag na lang akong magpunta doon because they are in mourning. I respect that because I would ask the same, maybe, request if I were in his shoes,” Duterte explained.
Duterte is in Japan for a three-day working visit. He has already met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Filipino community in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Before his supposed visit to the Emperor, some Japanese have expressed concern that Duterte may not follow protocol in meeting the monarch, as the most revered figure in Japan.
This is after a video of the President in meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping showing him apparently chewing gum. This behavior is considered rude in Japan for such an occasion. He was also seen with another no-no, standing at the event with his hands in his pockets.
Since he arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, Duterte has managed to avoid any major trouble, though he has kept up a barrage of insults against Washington during speaking engagements in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan is the Philippines’ largest source of official development assistance.
On Wednesday, the Philippine President and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement after their meeting on a range of bilateral matters where they pledged to step up cooperation in boosting maritime security in the region and in ensuring rule of law is adhered to in resolving disputes, including those in the South China Sea.