Emperor Naruhito expressed hopes for obtaining public understanding for the proposal being deliberated in the Diet to ensure a stable imperial succession.

Diet executives submitted the proposal to secure a sufficient number of imperial family members to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on June 10.

Naruhito held a news conference on June 11 ahead of his scheduled visit to the Netherlands and Belgium with Empress Masako.

The emperor again refrained from commenting directly on the Diet discussions as it related to the imperial system.

But he said the fundamental point about the imperial family and its activities was to share in the joys and the pain of the public.

“Regarding securing an adequate number of imperial family members, I hope the discussions will be one that can gain the understanding of the public,” Naruhito said.

Prior to the news conference, Buichiro Kuroda, grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, held his own separate news conference.

Kuroda revealed that he had explained the proposal compiled by the Diet leaders to Naruhito, Masako and Crown Prince Fumihito.

Kuroda said he felt that the emperor hoped that the proposal would gain the understanding and the consent of the public.

The imperial couple will depart Tokyo on June 13 for the state visit to the Netherlands and Belgium.

The imperial family has close ties with the royal families of both nations, but Naruhito also touched upon the fact that Japan was viewed as the enemy during World War II by both nations.

“While there has been a long history of goodwill, we must also never forget the period of difficulties,” Naruhito said.

Naruhito and Masako visited both nations while he was still crown prince.

But relations with the Netherlands for a long time were overshadowed by Imperial Japanese Army forces taking Dutch prisoners of war in what is now Indonesia, which was still a Dutch colony during World War II.

“I would like to remember that there are still people in the Netherlands who continue to bear the pain of that time,” Naruhito said.

The imperial couple is scheduled to return to Japan on June 26. It will mark the fourth overseas trip for international friendship since Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019.

(This article was written by Ayako Nakada, Senior Staff Writer Yasuhiko Shima and Junko Miyasako.)