Merkel Greeted by Emperor Akihito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was greeted by Japan’s Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 9. Merkel was visiting Japan in advance of the G7 summit, scheduled to take place in Bavaria, Germany, on June 7-8.

According to Reuters, Merkel spoke at the headquarters of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper on the same day, urging Japan to face up to its wartime past. The report said that Japanese President Shinzo Abe intended to issue a statement expressing remorse over the nature of Japan’s involvement in the Second World War, as the country prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of its surrender in August 1945. Credit: Twitter/Steffen Seibert