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The Prime Minister in Action
Meeting with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Other Events
November 28, 2017
Photograph of the commemorative photograph session
Photograph of the Prime Minister meeting with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister meeting with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister meeting with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (3)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the banquet hosted by Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the banquet hosted by Prime Minister Abe and Mrs. Abe (2)
On November 28, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. After that, the Prime Minister hosted a banquet.
In his address at the banquet, the Prime Minister said,
“I am honored to welcome His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg to Japan as a state guest, and extend my heartfelt welcome. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Japan on this important milestone that marks the 90th anniversary of cordial relations between our two countries.
The foundation of the friendly relations between Japan and Luxembourg is the longstanding close relationship between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg. There have been numerous visits to Luxembourg by members of the Imperial Family, including the visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 1997. I am delighted that this visit marks His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri’s 12th visit to Japan.
In the context of our bilateral relations, I visited Luxembourg for the first time as Prime Minister in 2015, and had the honor of meeting His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri.
On that occasion, I was very impressed to hear that when His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri served as an intern in Japan in 1981, he took the bus alone from Tokyo to Nagasaki. At that time, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke hid his title and simply traveled as a young man. His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri met numerous Japanese people along the way from Tokyo to Nagasaki who were extremely kind to him, and I would like to express my gratitude for their kindness. I would like to tell His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri that if during his trip he had visited Yamaguchi Prefecture, where I am from, he would have met more kind people.
I also heard that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, who is an expert on Japan to a rare extent, named his two pet dogs “Sushi” and “Sake.”
We have invited to today’s banquet leaders who are active in a range of areas, including politics, the economy, academia, and culture, for the development of the relationship between Japan and Luxembourg. The friendly relationship that Japan and Luxembourg share today is thanks to all of you. I would like to extend my appreciation to you all, and ask that you continue to exert your efforts.
I would now like to offer a toast, in the heartfelt wish that the visit to Japan as a state guest of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri will add a new chapter to the 90-year history of exchange between our two countries.
I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for the continued health and success of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri, and for an even closer friendship between Japan and Luxembourg. Prost!”
In his address at the banquet, the Prime Minister said,
“I am honored to welcome His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg to Japan as a state guest, and extend my heartfelt welcome. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Japan on this important milestone that marks the 90th anniversary of cordial relations between our two countries.
The foundation of the friendly relations between Japan and Luxembourg is the longstanding close relationship between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg. There have been numerous visits to Luxembourg by members of the Imperial Family, including the visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 1997. I am delighted that this visit marks His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri’s 12th visit to Japan.
In the context of our bilateral relations, I visited Luxembourg for the first time as Prime Minister in 2015, and had the honor of meeting His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri.
On that occasion, I was very impressed to hear that when His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri served as an intern in Japan in 1981, he took the bus alone from Tokyo to Nagasaki. At that time, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke hid his title and simply traveled as a young man. His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri met numerous Japanese people along the way from Tokyo to Nagasaki who were extremely kind to him, and I would like to express my gratitude for their kindness. I would like to tell His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri that if during his trip he had visited Yamaguchi Prefecture, where I am from, he would have met more kind people.
I also heard that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, who is an expert on Japan to a rare extent, named his two pet dogs “Sushi” and “Sake.”
We have invited to today’s banquet leaders who are active in a range of areas, including politics, the economy, academia, and culture, for the development of the relationship between Japan and Luxembourg. The friendly relationship that Japan and Luxembourg share today is thanks to all of you. I would like to extend my appreciation to you all, and ask that you continue to exert your efforts.
I would now like to offer a toast, in the heartfelt wish that the visit to Japan as a state guest of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri will add a new chapter to the 90-year history of exchange between our two countries.
I would like to express my heartfelt wishes for the continued health and success of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri, and for an even closer friendship between Japan and Luxembourg. Prost!”
