Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko Picture Thread

[jun5]

Miss Michiko Shoda in Europe before her engagement.

[silentrain]

wonderful pitures! never seen before. young princess michiko is really charming :)
where do you find them? I guess you are Japanese, right?

[Alexandria]

What wonderful pictures you have shared here with us jun5! :flower:

We hear and see so little from this very glamorous imperial family. Glad to have someone like you with us here at LTR who can contribute so much wonderful pictures and information about this most elegant and understated royals.

[Mandy]

Hello jun5,

Thank you for posting such lovely and interesting pictures. I am glad that you have joined us and brought us such knowledge and information about the Japanese Royal Family.

Mandy

[Josefine]

qhat year did they become Emperor & Empress?

[Azur]

Wow! wonderful pictures. From some of the pictures, I think Michiko is from a rich family. She was a very beautiful girl and seem very well educated as well.

[gaoshan1021]

5. His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito
8. Dowager Empress Nagako
9. Emperor Hirohito
10. Emperor Hirohito

[gaoshan1021]

Hirohito

Hirohito & Nagako

Hirohito & Nagako

Them again

Old Dowager Nagako

[Alexandria]

Time cover: 03-23-1959 of Michiko Shoda.

[Alexandria]

Mrs. Livingston T. Merchant ® riding with Japanese Princess Michiko ® during her visit.

[jun5]

Thank you so much for posting them, Alexandria. :flower:

[emsaeva]

The Empress was and still is one of the most elegant women in the world.

[jun5]

Thank you for your kind note to Empress Michiko.

I think that Empress Michiko is still one of the most elegant women in the world. She is a truly elegant and beautiful woman.

[Alexandria]

I agree, Emperess Michiko is one of the most poised, graceful and elegant women in the world. She carries herself very well and appears in pictures to be very soft-spoken and kind and well-mannered.

I do not know a lot about her; did she come from a well-to-do family?

[pdas1201]

Thought I would post more pics of the Empress in her younger days. She was a true beauty as you can see from the pics below. I must say that the Empress is the embodiment of serenity and calm.

[pdas1201]

Originally Posted by Alexandria

I do not know a lot about her; did she come from a well-to-do family?

Empress Michiko comes from a wealthy family industrialist family. Her father was the president and later honorary chairman of his company. She met Emperor Akihito on a tennis court in 1957. They got engaged in 1958. Although, she came from a wealthy family, she was nonetheless a commoner. Some traditionalists did oppose the match as Michiko wasn't part of the nobility. But, after the engagement the couple proved to be popular with the people. Empress Michiko is the first commoner to ever marry in to the Japanese Imperial Family.

Empress Michiko is also a very smart woman. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class and has co-authored several poetry collections.

Interesting fact: After Michiko married Emperor Akihito (Prince, at the time), lots of new born baby girls were named after her.

[mandyy]

New thread for posting old photos of Akihito and Michiko together in special events and functions.

[mandyy]

1960's photo of Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko
Photo from Newscom

[mandyy]

Photos of Emperor and Empress' visit to the Aichi Expo from July 11-14
From Yomiuri news

[Warren]

Getty Images and Corbis
Here are some regal shots of the Emperor, Empress, and friends...
.