Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Tuesday visited the India International Centre, a cultural exchange facility in New Delhi, 53 years after taking part in a ceremony to launch its construction when they were still the Crown Prince and Princess.
Among those the Empress met at the center was Indian author and critic Manorama Jafa, 81, secretary-general of the India branch of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
The Empress and Jafa have known each other for years, last meeting in 2004 in Japan.