(CNN) Japan's new emperor has yet to ascend the throne, but he already has his first foreign guest lined up: United States President Donald Trump.

Current Emperor Akihito, 85, will step down at the end of this month, becoming the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in modern history. He will be replaced by his 59-year-old son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will pay a state visit to Japan in late May, becoming Naruhito's first official foreign guest, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a press release Friday.

President Donald Trump (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands as they speak to the media during a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House, on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Trump's trip will be the first state visit of a foreign leader in what will be known as Japan's Reiwa era.

Japan's eras mark who the emperor is and form the basis for the Japanese calendar system.

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