Chennai: Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived here today on a two-day visit to city.
The royal couple were received by State Minister for Higher Education P Palaniappan and senior government officials at the Airport, sources said.
During their visit, the couple is scheduled to visit Kalakshetra Foundation later in the day, sources said.
Tomorrow, they are expected to make a visit to the Children's Park in Guindy before attending the luncheon hosted by Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah.
The royal couple would also attend a function at the Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu and are expected to leave for Tokyo the same day.
In a first visit to any South Asian country after being enthroned in 1990, Japan's Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko arrived in Delhi on November 30 and were received by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, in a departure from the usual protocol.
Chennai is the only city apart from the national capital the royal couple are visiting during their six-day trip to India.
