Empress Michiko left Saturday for Switzerland to attend a jubilee congress in Basel to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the International Board on Books for Young People.
She will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony, as will Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Empress has written a children's book and also translates Japanese poems in children's books into English.
The Empress and Mubarak are patrons of the congress of the Basel-based organization, which promotes international understanding through children's books.