Just over a year after meeting on a tennis court in Karuizawa, Nagano the couple announced their engagement and on April 10, 1959 a commoner name Michiko Shodo married her prince and became Crown Princess Michiko.  On that day, the newly wed couple rode a carriage through the streets of Tokyo and were greeted by crowds of over 500,000 along an 8.8-km route and began their married life.

After thirty years of marriage, upon the death of Emperor Hirohito in 1989, Crown Prince Akihito became Emperor Akihito and Michiko became the first Empress not of royal lineage.  The couple has reigned in Japan for the the last twenty years and holds a special place in the heart of the Japanese people.

While this imperial photo collage may not be in the window of Ginza Wako for long, a stroll through the area is always a pleasant way to spend a weekend afternoon.  Plan on a late start and wander the streets that are closed to pedestrians on weekend afternoons and stay until the neon signs light up the night.  Ginza Wako can be found on this map of Ginza.

Read more about the Imperial Anniversary in The Japan Times.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection