Empress Michiko

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Michiko 美智子
Michiko in 2024
Empress consort of Japan
Tenure	7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019
Enthronement	12 November 1990
Born	Michiko Shōda (正田 美智子) (1934-10-20) 20 October 1934 (age 90) University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo City, Japan
Spouse	Akihito ​ (m. 1959)​
Issue	Naruhito, Emperor of Japan Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan Sayako Kuroda
House	Imperial House of Japan
Father	Hidesaburō Shōda
Mother	Fumiko Soejima
Religion	Shinto

Japanese imperial family
The Emperor The Empress The Princess Toshi
The Emperor Emeritus The Empress Emerita The Crown Prince Akishino The Crown Princess Akishino Princess Kako of Akishino Prince Hisahito of Akishino
The Prince Hitachi The Princess Hitachi
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa Princess Akiko of Mikasa Princess Yōko of Mikasa The Princess Takamado Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
v t e

Michiko (美智子, born Michiko Shōda [正田 美智子 Shōda Michiko] on 20 October 1934) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan. She was Empress of Japan as the wife of Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan reigning from 7 January 1989 to 30 April 2019.

Michiko married Crown Prince Akihito and became Crown Princess of Japan in 1959. She was the first commoner^[1] to marry into the Japanese imperial family. She has three children with her husband: Naruhito, Fumihito, and Sayako. Her elder son, Naruhito, is the current emperor. As crown princess and later as empress consort, she has become the most visible and widely travelled imperial consort in Japanese history. Upon Akihito's abdication, Michiko received the new title of Jōkōgō (上皇后), or Empress Emerita.^[2]