Japan's Emperor Naruhito has visited a sand erosion control office in the Special Region of Yogyakarta on the fifth day of his weeklong official visit to Indonesia.

The Emperor headed for Yogyakarta from Jakarta on a Japanese government plane on Wednesday.

Mount Merapi in central Java has claimed many lives through major eruptions.

Japan has long provided technical support to the Sabo Technical Center in Yogyakarta by sending experts to share their know-how on controlling debris flows by building sabo dams.

Sabo literally means "sand protection" in Japanese.

The minister of public works and housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, told the Emperor that the word "sabo" has become well known not only in Indonesia, but also in other countries.

In reply, the Emperor reportedly thanked Indonesia for introducing sabo technology to the world.

Basuki said he is extremely honored and thankful that the Emperor was interested in cooperation between Indonesia and Japan regarding sabo.

Basuki expressed his wish to deepen cooperation between the two countries through sabo as well as politics and culture.

The Emperor also attended a banquet hosted by the governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

He was greeted by the Sultan and his wife at their palace, where he enjoyed a performance of an Indonesian gamelan ensemble and a shadow play.