ttp://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/bulgariajapanroyalsdiplomacy;_ylt=AidlKLj9KagZHdykPshnYSIZO7gF Japanese royals arrive for visit to Bulgaria Wed May 13, 1:15 pm ET
SOFIA (AFP) Japan's Prince Akishino, the second son of Emperor Akihito, and his wife Princess Kiko arrived on a four-day visit to Bulgaria on Wednesday. The royals' visit, their first to the Balkan country, comes on the 50th anniversary of restored diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Japan, after these broke during World War II. The 43-year-old Akishino, second in line to the Japanese throne, and his wife were to meet with Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov and parliamentary chairman Georgy Pirinski on Thursday, before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in downtown Sofia. On Friday, the prince and Parvanov were to open a replica of a famous Thracian tomb, funded by the Japanese government, near Alexandrovo in southern Bulgaria. The royal couple was to visit several museums and sights during its stay, including the golden-domed Alexander Nevski cathedral in Sofia and the Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the programme of the visit were also meetings with Bulgarian students of Japanese, as well as Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov and Bulgaria's former king and premier Simeon Saxe Coburg and his wife Margarita. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko are on a two-week goodwill tour of Europe that began in Austria and will also take them to Hungary and Romania.
ttp://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/prev/13820810.jpg Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov (R) walks with Prince Akishino (L) of Japan during their official meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria 14 May 2009. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Princess Kiko, arrived on three-day visit in Bulgaria.
ttp://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/prev/13820978.jpg Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov (R) welcomes Prince Akishino (C) of Japan and his wife Princess Kiko (L) during their official meeting in Sofia , Bulgaria 14 May 2009.
ttp://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a2s9ZP0Gv9Xu/610x.jpg Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov (2nd R) and his wife Zorka (R) pose with Prince Akishino (2nd L) and Princess Kiko of Japan before their meeting in Sofia May 14, 2009.
ttp://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0es41ErbOPbFn/610x.jpg Prince Akishino (C) and Princess Kiko (L) of Japan lay a wreath at the monument of the Unknown Soldier in Sofia May 14, 2009.
ttp://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/prev/13822614.jpg Prince Akishino (2L) of Japan and his wife Princess Kiko (L) look on during their visit to the St Alexander Nevski Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria 14 May 2009. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Princess Kiko, arrived on three-day visit in Bulgaria. EPA/VASSIL DONEV