Siddhartha Baman, a Class VIII student of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, was among the lucky few who got to shake hands with the Emperor and speak with him.
“He asked me whether I had been to Japan. I told him that I heard a lot of things, especially about their automobile industry. I am really into automobiles and the contribution of Japan is really great,” Siddhartha said.
It was then the turn of the Empress, who the schoolboy says quizzed him about Suzuki, the Japanese carmaker.
“She started laughing and asked me whether Suzuki is popular here and I said oh yes,” Siddhartha said.
His schoolmate Akshala said she found the couple “really sweet and nice”.
“I shook hands with both of them and the Emperor asked me about the hand wave we did in his honour and asked me whether I came often to the Gardens,” she said.
