Emperor bids president of Brazil farewell with a final hug

Emperor Naruhito, left, shakes hands with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on March 27 at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. (Pool) Emperor Naruhito and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shared a warm goodbye embrace on March 27, the end of Lula’s visit as a state guest of Japan. Upon arriving at the president’s lodging at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Naruhito was greeted by Lula in the second-floor hall. Lula expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received in Japan, saying that he would never forget it. “I am delighted that you had such a fulfilling time,” Naruhito responded. “I am confident that your visit has further deepened the bonds of friendship between our two countries.” They engaged in a private conversation for about 20 minutes. According to an Imperial Household Agency official, Lula remarked that this was his “best visit to Japan ever” and repeatedly expressed his appreciation for the hospitality of Naruhito and Empress Masako, and for the warm welcome he received from the Japanese people. The imperial couple hosted a state banquet for the president on March 25. Lula also shared a lighthearted moment, recounting that he had been advised by his aides not to touch the Japanese emperor. However, he admitted to having already hugged Naruhito during his previous visit to the Imperial Palace. With a smile, he then proceeded to give Naruhito another hug. Lula’s visit marked Japan’s first state guest reception in six years, following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.