Japan's Emperor, Empress arrive in Mongolia for official visit
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako ate dairy snacks in a traditional welcoming ceremony at Chinggis Khaan International Airport on the outskirts of the capital. The Imperial couple also received flowers and spoke with the people who came to welcome them.
Local TV stations aired their arrival live. The couple headed to a hotel in the capital by car.
The Emperor and Empress will view exhibits on Mongolia's history and culture when they visit a national museum on Monday. They will also inspect water supply facilities built with Japan's support.
They will attend a welcome ceremony as state guests on Tuesday and meet with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife before attending a banquet at their hotel in the evening.
On Tuesday afternoon, the couple will pay their respects at a monument for Japanese nationals who died from hard labor and other causes after being detained by the former Soviet Union and sent to Mongolia shortly after the end of World War Two.
Toward the end of the visit, they are expected to attend the opening ceremony of a national sports festival called Naadam, and watch an archery competition and horse racing.
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