TORONTO - Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met with Ontario's premier before thrilling hundreds of supporters who waited to greet them outside the Ontario legislature by shaking hands with some of them.
Sources say the empress asked Premier Dalton McGuinty about the province's Family Day holiday, and talked to him about the shared values of family between Canada and Japan.
The royal couple also spoke with the premier about strengthening relations between the two countries, and discussed Japanese poetry.
After the 15-minute meeting, the royal couple -- along with the premier and his wife -- surprised supporters by walking past the crowd and shaking their hands.
Hiroko Rowen's hands were trembling as she shook the empress' hand -- a moment she described as a rare, once in a life time opportunity.
The royals arrived at Queen's Park after visiting a children's hospital and meeting with Lt.-Gov. David Onley.
The emperor and empress will also visit the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in the city tonight and a seniors' home in east-end Toronto on Friday.
