Emperor Akihito of Japan has celebrated his 64th birthday by opening the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to the public for the day and greeting a crowd of several thousand people from the palace balcony.

The annual ceremony was cancelled last year because of the hostage crisis at the Japanese ambassador's residence in the Peruvian capital, Lima.

In an interview with journalists to mark his birthday, the Emperor reiterated his sorrow that the end of the siege had resulted in the deaths of one hostage and two soldiers.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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