Emperor Akihito impresses President Halonen with broad knowledge of Finland

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On the second full day of her first official visit to Japan, Finnish President Tarja Halonen met with His Majesty Emperor Akihito and Empress
Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Halonen came away much impressed with the Emperor's in-depth knowledge of this country and its culture.
      Halonen and her husband Dr. Pentti Arajärvi are on an official four-day visit to Japan on 20-24 October 2004. This is Halonen's first visit to Japan as a president.
      On Thursday President Halonen and Dr. Arajärvi, accompanied by Halonen's delegation, had lunch with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the elegant Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo. Other members of the Imperial Family attending the lunch were Princess Sayako and Crown Prince Naruhito.
     
The imperial couple impressed Halonen with their broad knowledge of Finland. They asked a lot about both the current affairs and history of Finland, and are very attracted to Finnish culture. Particularly the Empress is very fond of Finnish classical music, and the Moomins of Tove Jansson are of course well-known in Japan. Halonen said the meeting passed off in an extremely cordial atmosphere, which she dared put down to more than mere Japanese politeness. This was not, in fact, a first meeting: Akihito and Michiko paid a visit to Finland in the spring of 2000, in the early months of Halonen's term of office.
      According to Halonen, among the topics discussed over lunch were Finnish and Japanese history, the United Nations, and environmental protection issues. Moreover, Halonen congratulated Empress Michiko on her 70th birthday, celebrated on Wednesday. Naturally, the Finnish delegation also expressed their condolences at the losses caused by the typhoon which swept across Japan earlier this week. 


Previously in HS International Edition:
  President Halonen and female ministers create interest among Japanese (22.10.2004)

Links:
  U Thant Distinguished Lecture by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the United Nations University in Tokyo on 22 October 2004
  Suomi Magazine: Interview with Tarja Halonen, President of Finland (8.10.2004)

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