Japan’s Royal Couple Does Some Grippin’ ‘n’ Grinnin’ in Old South

Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were greeted here Saturday with some Southern hospitality, Japanese-style.

“My sister in Japan did not believe the emperor was coming here and we were going to see him. Now she really will not believe that I got to shake his hand,” said Marie Hall, who left her native Japan 38 years ago after marrying an American.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Toshi Storer, who has lived in South Carolina for 20 years. “I’m going to call home to Japan as soon as I get home today.”

About 250 people gathered at the Charleston Air Force Base to see the emperor and empress of Japan arrive for their four-hour visit to Charleston.

The royal couple spent about 10 minutes shaking hands and speaking with some of the 250 people, most of them Japanese or Japanese Americans.

“I didn’t expect that we could see him so closely, that we could even hear his voice,” Masaki Koide said. “It will be the only chance in my lifetime that I will get to see him that closely.”

The emperor and empress flew from Charleston to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington. They will be honored at a state dinner at the White House on Monday night.

They were greeted at Andrews by Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, and by Walter F. Mondale, the ambassador to Japan, and his wife, Joan. The couple was spending Saturday night with the Japanese ambassador, Takakazu Kuriyama.

Earlier, in Atlanta, the royal couple got a taste of Southern culture, touring a museum filled with Civil War relics and chatting with a Scarlett O’Hara impersonator. The empress loves “Gone With the Wind” and wanted to see an exhibit on the movie at the Atlanta History Center.

“She asked me if I was wearing a corset to make my waist look smaller,” said impersonator Melly Meadows, who presented the empress with a bouquet. She responded by flipping up part of her hoop skirt to show the royal couple her bloomers.

The emperor and empress began a 16-day tour of the United States on Friday in Atlanta. They left Saturday for Charleston.

They are making no public comments during their tour and are acting only as goodwill ambassadors.

They exchanged pleasantries but didn’t address any political issues during meetings in Atlanta with former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow, Coretta Scott King.