Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko meet Cambodian King Sihamoni+

TOKYO, May 17 Kyodo - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, who is on his first state visit to Japan, at the Imperial Palace on Monday.

King Sihamoni, a son of Norodom Sihanouk, who abdicated the throne in October
2004, is making the first state visit to Japan by a Cambodian king since
Cambodia restored its monarchy in 1993, the Imperial Household Agency said.
Ahead of the meeting, a welcome event for the 56-year-old king was held at a
garden of the palace attended by the emperor and empress, Crown Prince Naruhito
and his brother Prince Akishino and his wife, as well as Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama and his wife Miyuki.
Crown Princess Masako, who is undergoing treatment for a stress-induced
illness, did not attend the event due to her illness.
King Sihamoni attended a banquet hosted by the emperor and empress in the
evening. He is also expected to attend a luncheon hosted by the prime minister
and his wife on Tuesday.
He will visit Kyoto on Wednesday before returning home on Thursday.
==Kyodo