Emperor, Empress Visit Kumamoto after July Quake

Kumamoto, Sept. 30 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Kumamoto Prefecture on Wednesday to comfort people affected by a powerful earthquake that struck the southwestern Japan prefecture in July and to thank those involved in relief efforts.

The Imperial couple left Tokyo's Haneda Airport on a special flight earlier in the day and landed at Kumamoto Airport.

After receiving a briefing from Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura about the damage caused by the July 28 earthquake, the Emperor and Empress will fly to the city of Yatsushiro, one of the hardest-hit municipalities, aboard a Self-Defense Forces helicopter in the afternoon.

The couple will then travel by car to the cities of Uki and Hikawa, which also suffered severe damage from the quake. They will return to Tokyo later in the day to avoid placing an additional burden on local communities.

The visit was initially planned for Tuesday but was postponed because bad weather could make helicopter travel difficult.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]