Empress Michiko

Michiko (美智子, Michiko), formerly Michiko Shōda (正田美智子, Shōda Michiko, born 20 October 1934), is the wife of Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito.[1]

Michiko
Empress Emerita of Japan
The Empress wearing the Order of the Precious Crown
Empress consort of Japan
Tenure7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019
Enthronement12 November 1990
BornMichiko Shōda (正田美智子)
(1934-10-20) 20 October 1934
University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Spouse
Akihito (m. 1959)
Issue
HouseImperial House of Japan (by marriage)
FatherHidesaburō Shōda
MotherFumiko Soejima
ReligionShinto

Early life

Michiko Shōda was born at University of Tokyo Hospital in Tokyo. She is the eldest daughter of Hidesaburo Shōda and Fumiko Soejima, president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company.[1]

In 1957, she earned a BA degree at the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo.[2]

Marriage

Shōda married Crown Prince Akihito in 1959.[1]


When she married, she became Crown Princess Michiko. She became Empress Michiko in 1989 when her husband became Emperor.

Empress Michiko is the mother of two sons and a daughter.[1]

Titles and Styles

20 October 1934-10 April 1959: Miss Michiko Shoda

10 April 1959-7 January 1989: Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess or Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess Michiko

7 January 1989-30 April 2019: Her Majesty The Empress of Japan

1 May 2019-present Her Majesty The Empress Emerita

NameBirthMarriageChildren
Naruhito, Emperor of Japan23 February 19609 June 1993Masako OwadaPrincess Toshi
Fumihito, Prince Akishino30 November 196529 June 1990Kiko KawashimaPrincess Mako of Akishino
Princess Kako of Akishino
Prince Hisahito of Akishino
Sayako, Princess Nori18 April 196915 November 2005Yoshiki Kuroda

Health

In August 2019, it was revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in July 2019.[3] Empress Michiko had cancer surgery in September of the year.[3]

References
The chrysanthemum symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.
  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Michiko" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 627.
  2. Hoover, Willian D. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Postwar Japan, p. 16.
  3. "Japan's ex-Empress Michiko has early stage breast cancer". ABC News. August 9, 2019.

Other websites

Media related to Empress Michiko at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.