Emperor Naruhito, who is on an official visit to Britain, attended a reception in London on Monday organized by five Japanese-British friendship organizations, including the Japan Society.
At the reception, the Emperor was welcomed by the Duke of Gloucester, cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and patron of the Japan Society.
“It is my wish that our bilateral ties will become even stronger in the coming years, building on solid foundations as connections between people,” the Emperor said in English after a speech by Bill Emmott, the association’s president.
About 400 people attended the event, and the emperor conversed warmly with them.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the emperor met privately with the wife of a now-deceased emperor’s guard on Monday evening while studying in Britain.
Earlier on Monday, the Emperor visited a flood prevention facility on the River Thames in the outskirts of London.
The emperor, who studies water issues as his life’s work, entered the Thames Barrier control room wearing a hard hat, asked questions and checked how it worked.
The Thames Barrier consists of ten movable lock gates that protect the British capital against storm surges from the North Sea.
The Emperor researched the history of transport on the River Thames while studying at Oxford University. Since then, he has repeatedly visited water-related facilities.
Empress Masako rested at a hotel ahead of welcome events as a state guest starting Tuesday.
