ID :
54863
Fri, 04/10/2009 - 23:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/54863
The shortlink copeid
Celebratory events mark imperial couple's 50th wedding anniversary+
TOKYO, April 10 Kyodo - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were congratulated on their 50th wedding anniversary Friday with thousands of people signing congratulatory books and around 100 couples who are also celebrating their golden wedding anniversaries this year attending a tea party at the Imperial Palace.
Prime Minister Taro Aso, along with ministers as well as the speakers of both
houses of the Diet, also offered their congratulations to the emperor, 75, and
the empress, 74, at the Imperial Palace.
The emperor responded, ''We will carry out our duties in line with people's
expectations.''
During the day, around 7,000 people visited tents set up in front of the
Imperial Household Agency to sign the congratulatory books, according to the
agency.
In one of the tents, Kimi Nakamitsu, a 69-year-old woman from Saitama
Prefecture, recalled watching on television the imperial parade in Tokyo
following the couple's wedding 50 years ago and her astonishment that the then
crown princess ''was such a wonderful woman.''
''I imagine the two have experienced hardships and hope they will take care of
their health,'' Nakamitsu said.
Mark Hollingsworth, 49, and his wife Jane, 47, from England, who will celebrate
their 25th wedding anniversary in May, also visited the tent.
''Fifty years (of marriage) is a very long time and I respect that,'' said
Hollingsworth, adding that the couple hope they can reach the 50-year mark.
Reiko Nakamura, 76, from Tokyo, said she has been following most of the events
related to the imperial couple.
''I decided to leave my hometown of Kagoshima to live in Tokyo after watching
the celebration parade following their wedding ceremony 50 years ago on TV,''
she said. ''I wanted to be a lady like Empress Michiko.''
At the tea party with the invited couples, the emperor raised a toast, saying,
''You have greatly contributed to establishing postwar Japan. I greatly
appreciate your efforts.''
Motomu Yamada, 80, and his wife Yasuko, 75, from Nagano Prefecture who also
married on April 10, 1959, said that they were honored and glad to have been
invited to the ceremony.
Originally, 101 couples were invited but four couples were not able to attend
due to health reasons.
In the evening, the emperor and empress dined with their children and their
spouses -- Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Crown Princess Masako, Prince
Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Sayako Kuroda, the former Princess
Sayako, and her husband Yoshiki Kuroda, after meeting with four grandchildren.
Emperor Akihito is the first crown prince, and later the first emperor, to have
married a commoner.
==Kyodo
Prime Minister Taro Aso, along with ministers as well as the speakers of both
houses of the Diet, also offered their congratulations to the emperor, 75, and
the empress, 74, at the Imperial Palace.
The emperor responded, ''We will carry out our duties in line with people's
expectations.''
During the day, around 7,000 people visited tents set up in front of the
Imperial Household Agency to sign the congratulatory books, according to the
agency.
In one of the tents, Kimi Nakamitsu, a 69-year-old woman from Saitama
Prefecture, recalled watching on television the imperial parade in Tokyo
following the couple's wedding 50 years ago and her astonishment that the then
crown princess ''was such a wonderful woman.''
''I imagine the two have experienced hardships and hope they will take care of
their health,'' Nakamitsu said.
Mark Hollingsworth, 49, and his wife Jane, 47, from England, who will celebrate
their 25th wedding anniversary in May, also visited the tent.
''Fifty years (of marriage) is a very long time and I respect that,'' said
Hollingsworth, adding that the couple hope they can reach the 50-year mark.
Reiko Nakamura, 76, from Tokyo, said she has been following most of the events
related to the imperial couple.
''I decided to leave my hometown of Kagoshima to live in Tokyo after watching
the celebration parade following their wedding ceremony 50 years ago on TV,''
she said. ''I wanted to be a lady like Empress Michiko.''
At the tea party with the invited couples, the emperor raised a toast, saying,
''You have greatly contributed to establishing postwar Japan. I greatly
appreciate your efforts.''
Motomu Yamada, 80, and his wife Yasuko, 75, from Nagano Prefecture who also
married on April 10, 1959, said that they were honored and glad to have been
invited to the ceremony.
Originally, 101 couples were invited but four couples were not able to attend
due to health reasons.
In the evening, the emperor and empress dined with their children and their
spouses -- Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Crown Princess Masako, Prince
Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, and Sayako Kuroda, the former Princess
Sayako, and her husband Yoshiki Kuroda, after meeting with four grandchildren.
Emperor Akihito is the first crown prince, and later the first emperor, to have
married a commoner.
==Kyodo
