The Japanese government is considering inviting U.S. President Donald Trump as a state guest after Crown Prince Naruhito's planned accession on May 1, government sources said Tuesday.
The government is trying to arrange a meeting between the new Emperor and Trump, in a move that could make the U.S. president the first foreign guest to meet with him, according to the sources.
Tokyo will arrange the detailed schedule of Trump's trip with Washington, as he is also expected to visit Japan to attend the Group of 20 summit in Osaka from June 28 to 29 next year, the sources said.
Japan aims to demonstrate its strong alliance with the United States through Trump's visit, as a state guest typically meets with the Emperor, in addition to holding talks with the prime minister.
In a meeting on the sidelines of the two-day G20 summit through Saturday in Argentina, Trump told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he looks forward to visiting Japan next year.
"I'll be going to a tremendous event in Japan," he said, adding, "I was very honored to be invited. Your Emperor."
The 58-year-old Crown Prince will accede the throne after Emperor Akihito, 84, abdicates on April 30 as the first living monarch to do so in about two centuries.
A senior Japanese government source said Trump's visit will come after the new Emperor's enthronement.
The U.S. leader paid a visit to Japan in November last year as an official guest, rather than a state guest. His predecessor Barack Obama was invited to Japan as a state guest in April 2014.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will attend Wednesday's state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who died on Friday at age 94, as a special envoy of Abe.