On 29 June 1990, Prince Fumihito of Japan, known as Prince Aya at the time, the younger brother of the current Emperor Naruhito, married commoner Kiko Kawashima. He had proposed to her in June 1986, but their engagement was not announced for three years. Officials in the Imperial Household disapproved of the match as Kiko did not come from a wealthy family.
One reporter said, “Kiko will be the closest person to the general public ever to marry into the royal family. In that respect, it is breaking new ground in Japanese history.”1 She would be the second commoner, following her mother-in-law to marry into the Imperial Family.
Eventually, they overcame the disapproval, and the engagement was announced on 12 September 1989. Their official engagement ceremony wasn’t held until the one-year mourning period had concluded for Emperor Hirohito, who died on 7 January 1989. The “Nosai no Gi” (engagement ceremony) was held on 12 January 1990, and their wedding followed on 29 June 1990 at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The public celebrated the royal wedding and the “Cinderella story” of Kiko.
The day began at 7 a.m. when Kiko entered the palace for a purification rite. She was dressed in a 12-layer kimono from the Heian period, which weighed 25 pounds and reportedly cost $130,000.
Guests began arriving at the Kashikodokoro shrine shortly before 10 a.m. The groom’s father and mother did not attend the ceremony, as was the custom. During the 20-minute ceremony at the shrine, Fumihito read out his vows in ancient Japanese from a card.
In the afternoon, the bride and groom, now dressed in a sleeveless gown and morning coat, respectively, reported their marriage to the Emperor and Empress. Afterwards, the couple waved at the thousands of well-wishers who lined the streets.
Upon marriage, Fumihito became known as Prince Akishino, and Kiko formally became Princess Akishino. The couple went on to have three children together. Since his brother’s accession as Emperor, Fumihito is the Crown Prince of Japan.
Be the first to comment on "Looking back at the wedding of Prince Fumihito of Japan and Kiko Kawashima"