Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met with President Aquino in Malacañang earlier today.
A welcome ceremony was held in honor of the Imperial couple, who arrived in Malacañang at around 10:30 a.m.
After being greeted by Aquino and being re-introduced to cabinet members, the emperor and empress were escorted to the reception hall to sign the Malacañang guestbook before having a private meeting with President Aquino.
The president is also scheduled to hold a state banquet for the emperor and the empress tonight.
Then tomorrow, the royal couple will meet with former Japanese students and trainees at the San Diego Garden in Intramuros and Japanese residents at Sofitel Hotel.
They will also motor to the main office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to visit its language training center in Taguig City.
On Friday, the couple will head to Caliraya, Laguna, for wreath-laying rites at the Japanese memorial garden there.
They will then head to Los Baños for a tour of the International Rice Research Institute.
The royal couple will end their visit on Saturday morning when they will fly back home to Tokyo.
