Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja were welcomed by Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, marking the start of the South American leader's state visit to celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Brazil arguably hosts the largest Japanese-descendant population outside Japan with around 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth largest Brazilian community abroad, with around 200,000 people.
Add your comment!After a fun-filled weekend of golf and sumo, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are set to hold formal talks on Monday, with trade and tensions with North Korea topping the agenda.
Japan's Emperor Akihito prepared on Tuesday to become the country's first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years, handing the Chrysanthemum Throne to his son and ushering in a new imperial era.
Japan this weekend kicked off an unprecedented 10-day holiday, including celebration days for the imperial transition, as airports were packed with record travelers while people queued at teller machines in the cash-dominated nation.