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Japan's Emperor Honors Dutch War Victims
18 Jun
Summary
- Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Amsterdam to pay respects at a war memorial.
- The visit acknowledges the suffering caused by the Japanese military's invasion of Indonesia.
- This marks a significant gesture of remembrance and reconciliation between the nations.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were welcomed to Dam Square in Amsterdam on Wednesday for a ceremony that included national anthems and a guard of honor. The imperial couple, accompanied by Dutch leaders, paid their respects at a war memorial, laying wreaths and observing a moment of silence. This visit specifically addresses the painful history stemming from the Japanese military's invasion of the former Dutch colony of Indonesia.
Emperor Naruhito expressed his desire to extend his thoughts to the people of the Netherlands affected by the memories of that era. This gesture follows in the footsteps of his parents, former Emperor Akihito and former Empress Michiko, who also visited the memorial in 2000. The imperial couple arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday and stayed in Apeldoorn before moving to Amsterdam.