Tokyo - US President Barack Obama on Saturday met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, the final event of the US leader's first visit to Japan.

Obama had lunch with Akihito and Empress Michiko at the imperial palace in Tokyo, Japanese media reported. It was the first meeting between the US president and the imperial couple.

Japan's 75-year-old tenno celebrated the 20th anniversary of his accession to the throne on Thursday.

Emperor Akihito is the first Japanese emperor not to be considered divine, his father having renounced the emperor's divinity in a declaration on January 1, 1946.

The post-war constitution stripped the emperor of his political powers and limited his role to symbolising the unity of the nation.

Before his meeting with the emperor, Obama, in a speech in front of Japanese citizens, business people and scientists, welcomed China's growing diplomatic and economic role on the world stage.

At the same time, he reassured traditional US allies in the region - like Japan - that ties remain strong.

Obama is to depart Japan later Saturday for Singapore, where he is to attend the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Sunday. He will conclude his first trip to Asia with visits to China and South Korea. (dpa)