Kushiro: Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido on Saturday for purposes including participation in the 42nd national marine convention.

A special flight carrying the Imperial couple, which departed from Tokyo’s Haneda airport, arrived at Kushiro airport in the Hokkaido city of Kushiro in the morning.

It is the first time since March 1999 for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Hokkaido together.

They will visit the Kushiro wetland wildlife conservation center on Saturday afternoon.

The couple are slated to attend the national marine convention in the town of Akkeshi on Sunday, in which Emperor Naruhito will give a speech. The convention, aimed at promoting the fisheries industry, is one of the four main regional events attended by the Emperor and the Empress.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will also visit a facility in Akkeshi that raises oysters, a specialty of the town, before returning to Tokyo on Sunday night.

JIJI Press