A DIAMOND COUPLE! Japanese Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko Reach 60 Years of Marriage

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, the Reigning Imperial Couple of Japan celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Emperor Akihito (85) & commoner-born Empress Michiko (84), made history 60 years ago, when the then-Crown Prince became the first such to marry a bride, not from a noble family. Their Imperial wedding (on 10 April 1959) was very popular, however Michiko was not immediately accepted by the Imperial Court's elite, and suffered from health issues time-to-time due to abuses she received. Through their marriage, Their Majesties somehow modernised the Imperial family of Japan, by raising their three children themselves, being involved in more public activities outside the palace & visiting remote areas, and even kneeling in front of people, affected by natural disasters, as a sign of support.

Their Diamond anniversary will be the last one, celebrated during their 30 years reign, as Akihito is set to abdicate at the end of this month, paving the way to the elder son, Naruhito, to succeed him.

The Jubilee Day

The actual Jubilee day was marked by numerous festive events. In the morning, the Emperor & Empress were congratulated by adult members of the Imperial family, in a ritual palace ceremony.
The imperial relatives - led by the soon-to-be Emperor, Crown Prince Naruhito & his wife Crown Princess Masako - passed by Their Majesties, standing in front of two seats in a large Hall, bowed before them & conveyed them their wishes each one (by the order of seniority). Later the Jubilieur Couple met with Japanese Prime Minister (Shinzō Abe), senior members of the government & the Chief Justice (of Supreme Court), who also conveyed their congratulations.

Another celebration took place as well at Tokyo's National Theatre, although without the Imperial Couple present. It was a festival, staged by "a cross-party group of lawmakers & business representatives", and attended by ~1,800 people. The event included the musical performance of a song, based on the poems Their Majesties have written. Other popular local musicians (like Yumi Matsutoya, MISIA & folk-duo Yuzu), starred as well. The Prime Minister, who spoke at the festival, noted the determination to create a future, based on Emperor & Empress' constant stay by the people.
Later the same day, Akihito & Michiko had a private celebratory dinner with their three children (Crown Prince Naruhito, Fumihito/Prince Akishino, & Sayako Kuroda) and their spouces as well.

The Imperial Wedding:

(Then) Crown Prince Akihito & Michiko Shōda first met in August 1957, on a summer resort's tennis court. He was a 23-year-old Japanese & english educated Heir of the world's oldest monarchy, which 'deity' had been lost after the end of World War II. She was a 22-year-old, Catholic-raised daughter of a flour magnate, with a University degree in english literature. They played in opposite groups & that of Michiko won. Soon afterwards they begun dating, with their meetings pre-arranged at neutral places, such as Akihito couldn't go wherever he wanted. Finally their engagement was announced by the Imperial Palace on 27 November 1958, being unanimously approved by the Imperial Council, consisting of 10 palace & a civil official & headed by (then) Prime Minister Nobuskue Kishi. It was the first time a Japanese heir was allowed to marry not a royal (or noble) bride.

"Nosai-no-gi" ceremony

The 'formal' engagement (Nosai-no-Gi) ceremony was held on 14 January, 1959. A Messenger of the Crown Prince arrived at Michiko's residence with traditional gifts: two big fishes, 6 bottles of sake & 5 bolts of silk. Akihito 'reported' his engagement to the souls of his Imperial ancestors, 'enshrined' at a palace shrine. While their actual Imperial Wedding was scheduled for April 10, that year (1959).

It was the happiest event after WWII in Japan, related to its ancient monarchy (which already lost part of its prestige). The main marriage ceremony (Kekkon-no-Gi) took place at 10am at one of Tokyo' Imperial palace's three sanctuaries, dedicated to Sun Goddess Amaterasu, the legendary ancestress & guardian of the Imperial Family. It was attended by 1,070 guests (including members of the Imperial family & Shōda family, politicians, judges, business-people, VIP's - with Akihito's former American tutor, Mrs. Elizabeth Grey Vining, being the only non-Japanese present); all of them were placed at the Imperial gardens & only saw the imperial couple, dressed in colourful attires of Heian Era (794-1185), proceeding into & from the shrines. This glimpse from outside was also broadcasted live on Japanese TV.

Akihito & Michiko in traditional Japanese Imperial attires on their wedding day

The ceremony lasted just 11 minutes at the sanctuary (called Kashiko-dokoro), with the Chief Shinto ritualist, a chamberlain (bearing an ancient sword, a symbol of the Crown Prince), a court lady & an unwed priestess (who symbolized purity) being the only attendants except of the marrying Couple. The groom & bride kneeled in front of the sanctuary's inner side, covered by a white silk curtain. They received two twigs of sakaki (a sacred symbol) by the chief ritualist, and following his signs bowed four times to the sanctuary, sipped sake from small coups & exchanged bows to each other. Akihito was the only one to speak, reading a 1,200 year-old text, addressing to the goddess with a pray for their happy marriage. After the ceremony's conclusion, the young couple proceeded to the nearby sanctuary (Kōrei-den) to report their marriage to ancestral imperial spirits, 'enshrined' here one year following their death. Herefrom they emerged as husband & wife, in a glittering procession down the Shrine's wooden porch. Michiko had become the first commoner Crown Princess of Japan.

The First Audience ceremony (Choken-non-gi)

Leaving the Imperial Palace on their wedding day

From the time they were married, until 2pm the Newlyweds were temporary separated from each other, to reunite at the First Audience Ceremony (Choken-no-gi) with Akihito's parents, Emperor Hirohito & Empress Nagako at the Imperial Palace's sitting room, where Their Majesties had stayed all over the morning ceremonies. The Crown Prince & Crown Princess "informed" the Emperor & Empress about their wedding, took family portraits & pantomimed the family dinner with chopsticks they were given (without actual food). Crown Prince Akihito & Crown Princess Michiko had changed their attire into western style costume, dress & jewels. Following this meeting they were driven in an open horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Tokyo to their residence. Tens of thousands of enthusiast crowds gathered from both sides of the streets to see the newlyweds for the first time. An incident with a 19-year-old throwing a rock & trying to climb in the carriage occured. However it didn't stop the procession with the attacking man immediately caught by the police.

Horse-carriage drive

The wedding ceremonies concluded three days later with some sorta banquets, called Shukuen-no-gi, during which the new Imperial Couple received mochi (pounded rice cakes), along with ritual prayers for the birth of a healthy boy. They ate some of the cakes, burying the rest at the Imperial Gardens.

How Akihito & Michiko 'redifined' the role of Japan's monarchy...

Akihito with Michiko & little Prince Hiro (Naruhito) - ca. 1960.

Akihito & Michiko welcomed three children together: two sons - Naruhito (b. 1960) & Fumihito, Prince Akishino (b. 1965) - and a daughter - Sayako Kuroda (born Sayako, Princess Nori; 1969), who upon her marriage to a commoner (in 2005) lost her Imperial status & titles according to the Imperial Household's legislation. By their two sons' marriages (also to commoners), they are grandparents of four, three granddaughters & a grandson (Prince Hisahito of Akishino, who, according to the Salic law of succession, is the only one from the younger generation in line to the Chrysanthemum throne).

The Emperor & Empress with Their Imperial family - 2013

Although their marriage was welcomed by many supporters of reform, it was not favored by numerous conservatives, with some of them VIP' members of the Imperial Household. Crown Princess Michiko suffered abuses & criticism for not being born in an elite family, by both the palace & outside, and reportedly had also tensed relations with her mother-in-law, Empress Nagako. In 1963 she had a misscarriage, probably accorded to a stress-related illness, due to hardlines & 'tabloid gossip' against her. She was forced to withdrew from public life for some time, and even reportedly lost her strong voice due to the pressure she received. Her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Masako has suffered from similar illness (from the pressure to produce a male heir), only recently recovering.

However, this marriage can be surely credited to the introduction of a new way of the Imperial House's structure & public approach. Akihito & Michiko broke with tradition by deciding to grow up their children by themselves at their residence (Togu Palace) without taking over nannies & sending them to governesses & tutors. Michiko became the first Imperial consort to breastfeed by her own.

In their later years as Crown Prince & Princess and after their accession to the throne (following Emperor Hirohito's death in 1989), Akihito & Michiko introduced a modern approach to the role of Japanese monarchy, which was traditionally limited to lavish life out of public eye & Emperor's participation in religious rituals (& 'praying for peace'). It was reported that Empress Michiko encouraged her husband, when he first knelt before his people while visiting a shelter of marginalised (disabled or affected by natural disasters) Japanese. The most well-noticed such action The Emperor & Empress did was in March 2011, when Their Majesties visited a shelter for victims of the deadly Earthquake, Tsunami & nuclear disaster in Fukushima. The Imperial Couple has visited each area affected by a major disaster during their 30-year-Reign, having a very close touch with the people.

The Emperor (left) speaking with victims of 2011' disaster

Moreover Akihito's reign as the 125th Emperor of Japan (also known as the Era of Achieving Peace/'Heisei Period'), has been the first period in country's thousands years of Imperial history with no war or major conflict. The Emperor has more-than-once rejected nationalism (sometime reaching the limits of his constitutional role, requiring him being politically neutral), and in his personal statements expressed saddness & remorse for Japan's agression in China, Korea & beyond, once even connecting his own (Yamamoto) dynasty to a Korean origin, based on historical facts (something unacceptable for the traditionalist view of the Imperial family's purity of blood). The Empress followed her husband in numerous visits to War memorials in Japan & abroad (on important anniversaries and beyond them) to mourn the billions of dead, once killed in the Emperor's name.

The Emperor & Empress at the annual commemoration of the anniversary of Japanese surrender (VJ-day) - 15 August

From religious figurehead estranged at the palace, Akihito managed to become a confronter-in-chief!

Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko at a recent morning walk in the gardens.

At the end of this month, Emperor Akihito will abdicate in favour of his son, Naruhito, making the first Imperial Transition in Japan not through death in more than two centuries. The 59-year-old Crown Prince is expected to continue the pasifist legacy & populr approach of his parents, who will withdraw from each of their Imperial duties, receive the titles of Emperor Emeritus & Empress Emerita, and resettle to their former residence (Togu Palace) for the rest of their lives. Akihito (85) will likely have more time for his interest in marine biology (& especially his specialised research in goby fishes), while Michiko (who also turns 85 in October) may continue to to compose poems & read literature masterpieces, along with music (that has been her passion). Their Majesties would also wish to have the opportunity of more morning walks in their private gardens & playing on a tennis court (reminding them their first meeting). And while their physical presence will gradually disappear, they will surely be remembered as a pioneer Imperial Couple, who led a life & reign of change, broke the glass ceiling in many aspects & gave the initials for a modern Japanese monarchy.

As of today, Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko are the longest-married couple among the currently living members of Japanese Imperial family and probably their Diamond Wedding (which they are not the first among them to reach) would open them up an opportunity for historical records

See also this recent publication, related to Their Imperial Majesties' Diamond Anniversary' events:
https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2019/04/breaking-japans-emperor-empress-honored.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR3bkTjsfUK3JVHty610n-fSQX3Fgkjziw9Evr9uUgM17ZEFChdZ1NCY71o

Videos from the: Jubilee palace reception, Empress Michiko's piano' performance & 1959' wedding: