Princess Aiko to Embark on First Official Overseas Visit to Laos in November

Historic Diplomatic Engagement

Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is set to make her inaugural official overseas visit to Laos. The trip, scheduled for six days from November 17 to 22, marks a significant milestone for the 23-year-old princess and for diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos. The visit comes at the invitation of the Laotian government, celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Detailed Itinerary Unveiled

According to the Imperial Household Agency, Princess Aiko will depart from Haneda Airport on November 17, traveling on a commercial flight and arriving in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, via Thailand.

• On November 18, the princess is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith. Following this, she will attend a banquet hosted by Vice President Pany Yathotou.
• The itinerary for November 19 includes a visit to the COPE Visitor Center, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War.
• On November 20, Princess Aiko will travel to Luang Prabang, an ancient city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There, she will tour the National Museum and is expected to meet with a local government leader, followed by a luncheon.
• Her engagements on November 21 will involve meeting with Japanese residents and Laotians who have connections to Japan in Vientiane before her departure from the country.
• Princess Aiko is expected to return to Japan on November 22.

Context and Significance

This visit represents Princess Aiko's first official diplomatic engagement abroad, although she has previously traveled overseas for personal and educational purposes, including a family trip to the Netherlands in 2006 and a summer study program in the United Kingdom in 2018. Since graduating from Gakushuin University in March 2024, Princess Aiko has been working at the Japanese Red Cross Society and has gradually taken on more public duties. This trip marks the fifth official visit to Laos by a member of the Japanese Imperial Family, with previous visits including those by Prince and Princess Akishino in 1999, Prince Akishino and Princess Mako in 2010, and then-Crown Prince Naruhito (now Emperor) in 2012.