King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium rolled out the red carpet for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan at the Royal Palace of Brussels on Tuesday.
The Japanese imperial couple was welcomed with full military honors as they began an official state visit to Belgium. The two royal families inspected an honor guard and posed for photographs before entering the palace.
Hundreds of spectators gathered outside the palace, many waving Japanese flags to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.
The visit underscores the longstanding diplomatic ties between Japan and Belgium, with formal relations dating back to 1866 when members of the two royal families first exchanged visits.
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