Emperor, empress arrive in Estonia

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived Thursday in the Baltic state of Estonia on the second leg of their 10-day European tour, marking the emperor's first visit to any of the 15 former Soviet republics.

After meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his wife, Evelin, in Kadriorg, the imperial couple attended a formal luncheon hosted by the president and his wife at the nearby Kadriorg Art Museum. The emperor and empress then went to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds to attend a concert of youth choirs.