Emperor welcomes Spanish king in ceremony attended by Princess Masako

TOKYO, Nov. 10 Kyodo - Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko welcomed Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in a ceremony Monday morning at the Imperial Palace also attended by other members of the imperial family including Crown Princess Masako, who made her first appearance for such an official duty in five years.

The Spanish royal couple, who arrived in Japan as state guests Sunday for a
six-day visit, also attended a banquet hosted by the emperor and empress at the
palace.
The banquet was also attended by Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and his
wife, Princess Kiko, the emperor's brother Prince Hitachi and his wife,
Princess Hanako, as well as Prime Minister Taro Aso and his wife, Chikako.
Crown Princess Masako, who is undergoing treatment for a stress-induced
illness, refrained from attending the banquet.
Emperor Akihito said at the banquet, ''I hope that mutual understanding between
the people of the two countries will deepen further.''
King Carlos said, ''It fills me with great happiness to return to Japan with
the queen 23 years after your state visit to Spain and 27 years following our
first state visit to this great country.''
Prince Noriko, the second daughter of the late Prince Takamado, also attended
the banquet for the first time since becoming an adult member of the imperial
family.
The emperor and the king met for the first time in 10 years and agreed to
continue efforts to promote bilateral friendship, according to the Imperial
Household Agency.
It was the first time that Crown Princess Masako had taken part in an event to
welcome a foreign guest since a ceremony in October 2003 for then Mexican
President Vicente Fox and his wife.