TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has invited Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to visit the Philippines at the soonest time possible.

Marcos said this during his separate meeting with both parties in Tokyo on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The President first extended the invitation to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako during the Royal Audience with Their Majesties in the afternoon.

During the Royal Audience, the President conveyed the affection and admiration of the Filipino people, including the estimated 300,000 Filipinos who consider Japan their second home.

“We had a memorable conversation and I deeply appreciate the Imperial audience accorded to me and the First Lady,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marcos said he extended the same invitation to Kishida during their meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office late afternoon.

“I have extended an invitation to Their Majesties to visit the Philippines at the most convenient time,” he added.

President Marcos is in Japan for an official working visit, where at least seven key agreements will be signed in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture and digital cooperation.

Marcos earlier secured billions of pesos worth of investment pledges from Japanese companies engaged in semi-conductors, electronics and wiring harness.

At least 10,000 jobs are projected to be generated by these investments, according to the President's economic team.

Based on the latest statistics published by Japan’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) as of June 2022, there is an estimated population of 297,262 Filipinos living in Japan, making Filipinos Japan’s fourth-largest foreign community.

Of the estimated number of overseas Filipinos in Japan, 226,057 or 76 percent are permanent residents, special permanent residents, spouse/child of Japanese, spouse/child of permanent resident, and long-term residents.