President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos will embark on a state visit to Japan from May 26 to 29, 2026, upon the invitation of the Japanese Government, Malacañang said in a news release Friday.
The Philippines and Japan are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations this year.
During the state visit, the President and First Lady are set to be received by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace for a welcome ceremony, state call, and state banquet.
The President will hold a summit meeting with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, where the two leaders are expected to discuss the future trajectory of the Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership and continue their recent discussions on current international developments, especially with regard to energy and food security, and maritime security.
The President is scheduled to meet with Japanese business groups and the members of the Filipino community, as part of his official engagements during the state visit.
The last state visit to Japan by a Philippine President was undertaken by former President Benigno S. Aquino III in June 2015, while Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko last undertook a state visit to the Philippines in January 2016.
World leaders’ trips are usually classified by protocol level and purpose: state visit, official visit, official working visit, working visit, and private visit.
The most prestigious, the state visit is usually extended by one head of state to another, often by invitation, and it is marked by strong ceremonial elements such as guard of honor, state banquet, and public pageantry. It is generally reserved for the highest level of relations and is relatively rare.