The government announced Saturday that it has decided to cancel a state banquet that was to be hosted by the Emperor in Tokyo on July 20 for leaders of the Group of Eight nations, following the death Friday of the Empress Dowager, widow of the Emperor Showa.
The government made the decision after consulting the committee arranging the Empress Dowager's funeral, headed by Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Sadame Kamakura.
The Imperial Household Agency has decided to hold the funeral for the Empress Dowager on July 25, and has begun making detailed arrangements with the Cabinet secretariat and other government bodies, officials said.