Empress Michiko

Who is Empress Michiko?

Empress Michiko, née Michiko Shōda, is the empress consort of Japan as the wife of Emperor Akihito, the current monarch of Japan reigning from 7 January 1989. She succeeded her mother-in-law, Empress Nagako, consort of the late Emperor Hirohito.

Michiko married Crown Prince Akihito and became "Crown Princess of Japan" until the death of Emperor Hirohito. She was the first commoner to marry into the Japanese Imperial Family. She had three children with her husband, and her elder son, Naruhito, is the current heir to the Chrysanthemum throne. As crown princess and later as empress, she has become the most visible and widely travelled imperial consort in Japanese history.