Crown Prince Naruhito bid farewell Friday to the king and queen of Bhutan upon completion of their itinerary in Tokyo as state guests, the Imperial Household Agency said.
The Crown Prince met with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema in Tokyo before they headed off to tour Fukushima Prefecture and said their visit will lift the spirits of people affected by the March 11 disasters, the agency said, noting Wangchuck replied that the main purpose of their visit to Japan was to show solidarity with people affected by the disasters.
The royal couple were to visit an elementary school in the coastal city of Soma later Friday, then visit Kyoto before leaving Japan on Sunday, the agency said.
Empress Michiko, who canceled several welcoming events while Emperor Akihito is in a hospital with bronchitis, met separately with the couple.
