President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday invited Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Manila during his meeting with Their Majesties in Tokyo.

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.

The chief executive’s parents, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, were warmly welcomed by The Imperial Couple as they landed in Japan for their first official visit in 1966.

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.

President 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. #