Duterte visit with Emperor Akihito canceled after prince’s death

The visit of President Rodrigo Duterte with Japan’s Emperor Akihito was canceled on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, following the death of his Majesty’s uncle, Prince Mikasa. INQUIRER FILE

TOKYO, Japan — President Duterte’s state call on Emperor Akihito on Thursday afternoon has been canceled following the death of his Majesty’s uncle, Prince Mikasa.

Duterte condoled with the emperor for his loss of the prince, who was the youngest brother of his father Emperor Hirohito. Mikasa was 100.

READ: Brother of former Emperor Hirohito dies at age 100

According to Duterte, the protocol officer advised him not to visit the emperor at this time because the royal family was in mourning.

“I respect that. I would ask for the same request if I were in his shoes,” he told reporters in an ambush interview in Yokohama.

Duterte’s state call on Empero Akihito would have been his last activity during his three-day official visit to Japan. CBB