The Imperial Household Agency announced on March 11 that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend the Osaka Expo opening ceremony.

The imperial couple will arrive in Osaka on April 11 and attend the ceremony on April 12.

The expo’s honorary president Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko will also be in attendance and survey the site ahead of the opening ceremony. 

Members of the imperial family have traditionally attended the opening ceremony of world expos held in Japan.

For the 2005 Aichi Expo, then Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the opening ceremony of the event, where then Crown Prince Naruhito acted as honorary president.