site.btaPresident Rumen Radev Arrives in Tokyo, Audience with Emperor Naruhito Scheduled

President Rumen Radev and the delegation he is leading have arrived in Tokyo, Japan. While in the Japanese capital, President Radev is scheduled have an audience with His Majesty Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace. The Bulgarian head of State previously visited Japan in 2019 for the Emperor's enthronement ceremony.

During his stay in Tokyo, President Radev will meet with the country’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, with whom he will sign a Declaration to elevate bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Japan to the level of strategic partnership. At the Prime Minister’s residence, the Bulgarian President will be welcomed with an official ceremony featuring military honors, followed by a meeting between the two delegations and a joint press conference, according to the Bulgarian head of State's institution.

The President's programme for his visit to Japan includes participation in an economic seminar organized by the Bulgarian Embassy in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization JETRO, meetings with the management of JETRO, the Japanese technology company Toshiba, the Japanese Business Federation Keidanren and Sumitomu Mitsui Bank.

Within the framework of his visit, he will also visit Japan's Hyakuri Air Base and the research centre of Japan's largest scientific organisation RIKEN.

During his visit, the head of State will deliver a lecture on bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Japan at Waseda University.

Founded in 1882, the university is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Japan and has a cooperation agreement with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” Waseda has about 50,000 students, and seven Japanese Prime Ministers are among its alumni.

President Radev will meet with the university’s President, Prof. Aiji Tanaka, and together with Hisako, Princess Takamado, will view the exhibition “Bulgaria – Japan: Politics, Diplomacy, Personalities, and Events,” which presents the history of Bulgarian-Japanese relations from the late 19th century to the present day. The exhibition was curated by Japanologist and long-time diplomat Vera Stefanova, and Associate Professor Evgenii Kandilarov from Sofia University.

Earlier on Sunday, President Rumen Radev visited the Bulgarian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka on the occasion of Bulgaria’s National Day at the world exhibition.