Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will be the top attendant for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's official visit to Europe next month, government officials said Wednesday.
The appointment is expected to be approved at a Cabinet meeting Friday, the officials said.
Current or former foreign ministers, or former prime ministers, usually accompany the Imperial Couple when they make official visits to foreign countries.
The Emperor and Empress will leave Japan on July 6 for a two-week visit to Poland and Hungary. They will make stopovers in the Czech Republic and Austria.
It will be their first trip abroad since visiting the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland from May 20 to June 1, 2000.