Japanese royal family members to visit Indonesia

The Jakarta Post

TOKYO (Antara): Members of Japan's royal family are planning to visit Indonesia early next year to mark the 50th anniversary of Indonesia-Japan relations, an Imperial Household Agency official said Wednesday.

The official said members of Japan's royal family would visit Indonesia in January 2008 and spend a week in the country.

"Prince Akishino and Princes Kiko will visit Indonesia to mark the 50th year of bilateral relations between the two countries," the Imperial Household Agency official said, adding that 2008 would be the Year of Indonesia-Japan Friendship.

He said during the visit, the Japanese royal family members would attend a ceremony to mark the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan, and pay a courtesy call on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace.

Prince Akishino is the second son of Emperor Akihito and was born on Nov. 11, 1965, while Crown Prince Naruhito is the first son and was born on Feb. 23, 1960.