Zelenskyy Becomes First Foreign Leader To Virtually Address Japan's Diet
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered a virtual address to Japanese lawmakers. His speech on Wednesday was the first online address by a foreign leader at the Diet.
Speeches by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries are usually delivered as part of events to welcome them hosted by the chairs of both Diet houses.
Japan has no laws or rules on having foreign leaders address the Diet.
Executives of the Diet's steering committee decide whether to hold such a session after receiving a request from the government of a foreign leader.
Usually, such addresses take place at the Diet's plenary session hall.
The Lower House says 40 such addresses have been delivered since the end of World War Two.
South Korean presidents made four of them, more than any other foreign leaders. US presidents and Chinese leaders made three each.
Britain's Prince Charles addressed Japanese lawmakers as an official guest in 1986.
Former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev gave a speech as a state guest in April 1991, immediately before the country's collapse.