Japan's imperial couple to visit Philippines later this month

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will make a five-day trip to the Philippines from January 26 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines, the Kyodo News reported.

It will be the first official visit by a Japanese emperor to the Southeast Asian country, where around 1.1 million Filipinos and some 518,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians perished during World War II.

The emperor and empress last visited the Philippines in 1962 when they were crown prince and princess. Their return after more than half a century comes at the invitation of President Benigno Aquino, extended during his state visit to Japan last June.