Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited a city hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan Thursday to meet with disaster victims, dpa reported.
The couple travelled to Asahi city, Chiba prefecture, 80 kilometres east of Tokyo, to offer their condolences and encouragement to those afflicted, the Imperial Household Agency said.
In Asahi, 13 people were killed and 12 were injured by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that rocked north-eastern Japan.
The imperial couple were visiting a disaster-hit area for the first time since the disaster, which killed more than 13,300 people and left some 15,100 unaccounted for.
The two travelled to Kazo city, north of Tokyo, Friday to visit a shelter to comfort evacuees from areas near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
They are scheduled to visit other areas later this month and in May, the agency said.
On Sunday, the emperor is to meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss the bilateral alliance and relief efforts in the aftermath of the disaster, the agency said.