Empress Michiko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michiko
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Michiko in 2016
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| Empress consort of Japan | |
| Tenure | 7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019 |
| Enthronement | 12 November 1990 |
| Born | Michiko Shōda (正田 美智子) 20 October 1934 University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo City, Japan |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan (by marriage) |
| Father | Hidesaburō Shōda |
| Mother | Fumiko Soejima |
Michiko (美智子), born Michiko Shōda (正田 美智子) on 20 October 1934, is a special member of the Imperial House of Japan. She was the Empress of Japan as the wife of Akihito. He was the 125th Emperor of Japan, ruling from 1989 to 2019.
Michiko married Crown Prince Akihito in 1959. She became the Crown Princess of Japan. She was the first person from a regular family, called a commoner, to marry into the Japanese imperial family. She and Akihito have three children: Naruhito, Fumihito, and Sayako. Her oldest son, Naruhito, is now the Emperor. As Crown Princess and later as Empress, she traveled widely and was very visible to the public. When Akihito stepped down from his role in 2019, Michiko received a new title: Jōkōgō (上皇后), which means Empress Emerita.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Michiko Shōda was born on 20 October 1934 in Tokyo. She was the second of four children. Her father, Hidesaburō Shōda, was the head of a large flour milling company. Her mother was Fumiko Soejima.
Michiko grew up in a cultured family in Tokyo. She received a careful education that mixed traditional Japanese ways with Western learning. She learned to speak English and play the piano. She also learned about painting, cooking, and the art of incense. She has an older brother, Iwao, a younger brother, Osamu, and a younger sister, Emiko. Her uncle, Kenjirō Shōda, was a famous mathematician.
Michiko went to Futaba Elementary School in Tokyo. She had to leave in fourth grade because of American bombings during World War II. She then studied in different prefectures like Kanagawa, Gunma, and Nagano. She returned to Tokyo in 1946. She finished elementary school at Futaba and then attended Sacred Heart School for junior high and high school. She graduated from high school in 1953.
In 1957, Michiko graduated with top honors from the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. She earned a degree in English literature. Her parents were very careful about who she might marry because their family was very wealthy.
Meeting and Marriage
In August 1957, Michiko met Crown Prince Akihito. They met on a tennis court in Karuizawa, near Nagano. On 27 November 1958, the Imperial Household Council officially approved their engagement. The media called their meeting a "fairy tale" or a "romance of the tennis court." The engagement ceremony took place on 14 January 1959.
Michiko was the daughter of a rich businessman, but she was not from a noble family. This was unusual for a royal marriage. Many people expected the Crown Prince to marry someone from a noble family. Some traditional people did not like the idea of the marriage. This was because Michiko came from a Catholic family. Even though she was not baptized, she went to Catholic schools.
However, many people supported the young couple. The media called it a "Mitchy boom." Michiko became a symbol of Japan's modern and democratic future. The wedding happened as a traditional Shinto ceremony on 10 April 1959. More than 500,000 people watched the wedding procession in Tokyo. Parts of the wedding were shown on TV, making it the first imperial wedding seen by the public in Japan. About 15 million people watched it.
When Michiko joined the imperial family, she received a special personal symbol. It was the white birch of Japan, called Shirakaba (白樺).
Life as Crown Princess
After their wedding, the young couple moved to the Tōgū Palace (東宮御所), also known as the "East Palace." This was the official home for the crown prince. They lived there until Akihito became Emperor in 1989.
Michiko and Akihito had three children:
- Naruhito, Prince Hiro (浩宮徳仁親王): Born on 23 February 1960 in Tokyo. He is now the Emperor.
- Fumihito, Prince Aya (礼宮文仁親王): Born on 30 November 1965 in Tokyo.
- Sayako, Princess Nori (紀宮清子内親王): Born on 18 April 1969 in Tokyo. After marrying Yoshiki Kuroda in 2005, she gave up her imperial title. She left the Imperial House of Japan as required by law. She became known as "Sayako Kuroda."
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Unlike old traditions, Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko chose to raise their children themselves. They did not send them away to be cared for by tutors. The Crown Princess even breastfed her children.
They also became very popular with the public. They often traveled to all 47 prefectures of Japan to meet people. They also took some liberties with royal traditions. Between 1959 and 1989, the Crown Prince and Princess visited 37 foreign countries.
Becoming Empress of Japan
When Emperor Shōwa passed away on 7 January 1989, Michiko's husband became the 125th Emperor of Japan. She then became the Empress consort. The new Emperor and Empress had their official enthronement ceremony at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on 12 November 1990.
Since becoming Emperor and Empress, they visited many countries. They worked hard to make the Imperial Family more open and friendly in modern Japan. They also tried to be close to the people by visiting all parts of Japan.
Her official duties included helping her husband at events and ceremonies. She also welcomed official guests, including leaders from other countries. She visited social, cultural, and charity organizations. For example, in 2007, Empress Michiko carried out over 300 official duties. For many years, Akihito and Michiko visited places for children on Children's Day. They also visited places for the elderly on Respect for the Aged Day.
As Empress, she was in charge of the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery. This is a sericulture farm on the palace grounds where silkworms are raised. She took part in the yearly silk harvesting ceremony. She personally fed the silkworms with mulberry leaves and cared for them. Making and harvesting silk was part of her traditional duties. These duties are linked to Shintoism, Japanese culture, and tradition. From 1994 to 2019, the Empress gave some of the harvested silk to the Shōsōin Treasure-house. This silk was used to help restore ancient treasures.
The Empress is seen as a symbol of traditional Japanese values like modesty and purity. She has always shown a strong sense of duty, which makes her very popular in Japan. She takes part in religious ceremonies with her husband. This includes visiting shrines and imperial tombs to pray to the spirits of the Imperial Family's ancestors. She is also a talented classical pianist.
In 1990, the Empress was added to the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List.
When her husband, Emperor Akihito, stepped down on 30 April 2019, she became the Empress Emerita. Since then, the couple's main home has been the Takanawa Residence.
Hobbies and Interests
The Empress Emerita loves reading and music. She plays the piano and the harp. The imperial family sometimes forms a family piano trio. Crown Prince Akihito plays the cello, Crown Princess Michiko plays the piano, and Prince Naruhito plays the violin. Empress Michiko also enjoys gagaku, which is a type of traditional Japanese court music.
She is also a fan of poetry. She chose, collected, and translated many poems by Michio Mado. These were published in collections like Dobutsu-tachi (Animals) in 1992 and Fushigina Poketto (The Magic Pocket) in 1998.
She has also written several poems, including waka. Some of her poems have been published. A collection of 367 waka poems by the Empress was published in 1997. It was called Seoto (瀬音), meaning "The Sound Current." Fifty-three of these poems were translated into French.
In 1991, she wrote a children's book called Hajimete no Yamanobori ("My First Mountain Climb"). It was illustrated by Wako Takeda.
She is also interested in Irish culture. She enjoys the story of the Children of Lir and can even speak some Irish.
Health Challenges
Michiko has faced some health challenges due to stress and public pressure. In the 1960s, she lost her voice for seven months. In 1993, she briefly collapsed on her birthday and did not speak for two months. Doctors said this was caused by "deep sadness" from negative media coverage.
In 2007, Empress Michiko had to cancel many official duties. Her doctors said she was suffering from physical symptoms due to psychological stress. This was similar to what her daughter-in-law, Masako, also experienced.
In 2019, it was announced that Michiko had some heart issues and an irregular pulse. She also had a successful surgery for early-stage breast cancer. In 2020, she had a mild fever. In 2022, she was diagnosed with a blood clot in her leg. In June 2024, she tested positive for COVID-19 but recovered.
Children
Michiko and Akihito have three children (two sons and a daughter).
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| Name | Birth | Marriage | Children | |
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| Date | Spouse | |||
| Naruhito, Emperor of Japan (Naruhito, Prince Hiro) |
23 February 1960 | 9 June 1993 | Masako Owada | Aiko, Princess Toshi |
| Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan (Fumihito, Prince Aya) |
30 November 1965 | 29 June 1990 | Kiko Kawashima |
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| Sayako Kuroda (Sayako, Princess Nori) |
18 April 1969 | 15 November 2005 | Yoshiki Kuroda | None |
Images for kids
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Michiko in 1940
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Wedding portrait with Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun, 10 April 1959
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A Japanese stamp commemorating the imperial wedding
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Japanese white birch, Betula platyphylla, designated imperial personal emblem of Michiko
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Michiko and her family in 1969
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Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko with Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1979
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Empress Michiko wearing the jūnihitoe at the enthronement ceremony in November 1990
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The Empress feeds mulberry leaves to silkworms in the Imperial Palace Grounds, May 2013
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Michiko Shōda while playing piano in October 1958
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The Emperor and Empress with their family in November 2013
See also
In Spanish: Michiko para niños
