Emperor, empress visit school for handicapped children in Gifu

Emperor, empress visit school for handicapped children in Gifu

GIFU, Japan - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko applaud after hearing music played by students at a school for handicapped children in the city of Gifu on May 22. The imperial couple visited the school on their way back to Tokyo after attending an annual tree-planting ceremony in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, on May 21.

Emperor, empress visit school for handicapped children in Gifu

Emperor, empress visit school for handicapped children in Gifu

GIFU, Japan - Emperor Akihito speaks to a pupil at a school for handicapped children in the city of Gifu on May 22. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the school on their way back to Tokyo after attending an annual tree-planting ceremony in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, on May 21.

Emperor, empress attend annual tree-planting ceremony

Emperor, empress attend annual tree-planting ceremony

GIFU, Japan - Emperor Akihito (2nd from R) and Empress Michiko (R) are briefed on local efforts to create a forest during an annual tree-planting event that took place on May 21 in Gero, Gifu Prefecture. (Pool photo)

Emperor, empress attend annual tree-planting ceremony

Emperor, empress attend annual tree-planting ceremony

GIFU, Japan - Emperor Akihito (L) delivers a speech at an annual tree-planting ceremony that took place May 21 in Gero, Gifu Prefecture. At right is Empress Michiko.

2 die in head-on collision of tanker, dump truck in Gifu

2 die in head-on collision of tanker, dump truck in Gifu

GIFU, Japan - Police officers check the scene of a traffic accident Jan. 18 where two people died in a head-on collision between a tanker truck and a dump truck on a national highway in the town of Gero, Gifu Prefecture.