Emperor Akihito will meet Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, waiving a customary rule that he be notified a month in advance of such visits, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Xi is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Monday. He reportedly requested a meeting with the Emperor without filing an official application, which is routinely submitted at least a month in advance.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Friday the government is asking the Emperor to meet Xi because "bilateral ties between Japan and China are of high importance."