Emperor remembers 'sad history' on visit

Japan's imperial couple arrived in the Pacific island nation of Palau on Wednesday, the site of a fearsome battle with US troops, on a rare overseas visit related to World War II.

Emperor Akihito, the son and heir of Hirohito, in whose name Japan's military fought until their defeat in 1945, was visiting the former colony officially to pay tribute to all those who perished in the war, 70 years after it ended.

"In this year to mark the milestone anniversary, we are visiting Palau as we think of a number of people who perished in the battles," Akihito, 81, said before departing from Tokyo.