Thailand’s His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away on Thursday, had forged close ties with Japan’s emperor and empress beginning with his visit to Japan as a state guest in 1963.
In December 1964, the year following the King’s visit, the emperor – who was crown prince at the time – made his first visit to Thailand with the empress, then crown princess, as Emperor Showa’s proxy.
In 1991, the emperor chose Thailand for his first foreign visit after enthronement. It was welcomed as a “royal visit,” which is a higher rank than a state visit, and the King gave him the Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn, which is the highest royal order of Thailand.
In 2006, when the country marked the 60th anniversary of the King’s enthronement, the Emperor visited to attend the celebration ceremony. To watch a parade, a special seat between the king and queen was given to the Emperor.