Japan’s imperial couple marks 60th anniversary
TOKYO: Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary just three weeks before he abdicates his throne.
The couple met at a 1957 tennis tournament remembered as a “love match”. Akihito and Michiko Shoda married on April 10, 1959, making him Japan’s first future emperor to wed a commoner and someone who was Catholic-educated.
Both are among many changes he brought to Japan’s 1,500-year-old monarchy.
Akihito and Michiko broke with tradition, especially in choosing to raise their three children, in speaking far more often to the public and making amends for the war victims in and outside the country as he kept searching for what his constitutional role of “a symbol” should be.
Unlike their predecessors, Akihito and Michiko are almost always together – Akihito kneeling beside Michiko speaking intimately with disaster victims at evacuation centres, or to residents at nursing homes or a handicapped people’s workshop.
Their friendly interactions have won deep affection among the
Japanese.
In his birthday remark in December, Akihito thanked the people for accepting and supporting him, especially Michiko for her years-long dedication and understanding for his role.
“Looking back, it was soon after I embarked on my life’s journey as an adult member of the Imperial Family that I met the Empress. Feeling a bond of deep trust, I asked her to be my fellow traveller and have journeyed with her as my partner to this day,” Akihito said.
“I am also truly grateful to the Empress, who herself was once one of the people, but who chose to walk this path with me, and over 60 long years continued to serve with great devotion both the Imperial Family and the people of Japan,” Akihito said, with his voice trembling with emotion.