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As released by the Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, August 30, 1996
Emperor Akihito was born December 23, 1933, the first son of Emperor Showa. In 1952, he entered the Department of Politics and Economics of Gakushuin University. His Coming-of-Age and Ceremony of Investiture were celebrated on November 10 of the same year. He left the university in April 1954 before graduating. He later attended the university as an auditor for a further two years. He married Michiko Shoda on April 10, 1959. When Emperor Showa died on January 7, 1989, he ascended to the throne as the 125th emperor. The Enthronement Ceremony was held on November 12, 1990.
Empress Michiko was born the first daughter of Eizaburo Shoda, honorary chairman of the board of Nisshin Flour Milling Co., Ltd., on October 20, 1934. In April 1953, she entered the Department of Literature of Sacred hearth Women's University, majoring in English literature. She met the then-Crown Prince at a tennis court in Karuizawa in the summer of 1957 after graduating from the university. After the enthronement of Akihito, she was appointed Honorary President of the Japan Red Cross Society, in January 1989.
Empress Dowager Nagako was born the first daughter of Kuninomiya Kuniyoshi on March 6, 1903. She became Crown Princess on January 26, 1924, and Empress upon Emperor Showa's enthronement on December 25, 1926. When Emperor Showa died on January 7, 1989, she became Empress Dowager.
Crown Prince Naruhito was born the first son of the Emperor on February 23, 1960. He entered the Department of Literature of Gakushuin University in April 1978 and graduated in March 1982. He went on to receive his Ph.D. from the same university, and afterward studied history as a postgraduate student. His Ceremony of Investiture was celebrated on February 23, 1991. He married Masako Owada on June 9, 1993.
Born the first daughter of career diplomat Hisashi Owada on December 9, 1963. After graduating from the Economics Department of Harvard University of the U.S., she entered the Law Department of the University of Tokyo in April 1986 as a graduate student. Passed Diplomatic Service Examination in October 1986 and left the university in April 1987 to join the Foreign Ministry. She married Crown Prince Naruhito on June 9, 1993.
Prince Akishinonomiya was born the second son of the Emperor on November 30, 1965. In April 1984, he entered the Law Department of Gakushuin University, where he studied law and biology. After graduating from the university, he went to England to study the taxology of fish. In 1986, he was appointed President of the Yamashina Institute of Ornithology and President of the Japan Committee of the World Wide Fund for Nature. On June 29, 1990, he married Kiko Kawashima.
Princess Kiko was born the first daughter of Mr. Tatsuhiko Kawashima, professor of Gakushuin University, on September 11, 1966. She specialized in social psychology as a postgraduate student at Gakushuin University. She married Prince Akishinonomiya in 1990 and gave birth to a daughter, Mako, in 1991.
Born the first daughter of the Emperor on April 18, 1969, she entered Gakushuin University in April 1988 and graduated in March 1992.
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