Final to have a royal spectator

Japanese Emperor Akihito will visit the Yokohama stadium to watch the World Cup final and attend the closing ceremony on June 30, Kyodo news agency reorted on Saturday.

Kyodo, quoting Japanese government sources, said Emperor Akihito would watch the final in Japan with other foreign dignitaries including South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

South Korea, co-host of the finals with Japan, has invited Emperor Akihito to go to Seoul for the opening ceremony on May 31. But the Japanese government sources said the time was notripe for him to visit since many Koreans still harboured bitter memories of Japan’s harsh rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910-1945.