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Japan: Crown Prince Akihito and Michiko Shoda, the future Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, at their wedding, 1959.

On 10 April 1959, Crown Prince Akihito married Miss Michiko Shoda (born 24 October 1934), the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shoda, the president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company. The new Crown Princess was the first commoner to marry into the imperial family. The Emperor and the Empress have three children: HIH The Crown Prince Naruhito (b. 23 February 1960, titled Hiro-no-miya or Prince Hiro); HIH The Prince Akishino (Fumihito, b. 30 November 1965, titled Aya-no-miya or Prince Aya); and Sayako Kuroda, formerly HIH The Princess Sayako (titled Nori-no-miya or Princess Nori, b. 18 April 1969).