Our Imperial Family.

Ladies and Gentleman,they are our Emperor and Empress.
Isn't this just lovely?
The Emperor married Empress Michiko in 1959. She was the first commoner to marry into the Imperial family.
The Emperor and Empress have made and effort to bring the Imperial Family closer to Japanese people. After the Great Earthquake and Tunami disaster,they visited several prefectures which is very rare but Japanese people felt they were closer.

The Emperor is 79 years old this year.
He has underwent successful heart bypass surgery lately. I've heard that he had taken the surgery earlier than he planned first because he wanted to attend the ceremony of memorial event of the Tohoku Great Earthquake.

We noticed Michiko Empress was in Kimono that day. She usually put the dress on. According to the paper,she wore kimono because she prepared for the emergency in case the Emperor fell down. She said Japanese sandals are better than in high heels.

A Girl's Festival.

It's March 3rd,a Girl's festival in Japan.

Dolls dressed in beautiful kimono and representing the Emperor ,Empress,and their court are displayed to cerebrate the growth of the family's girls and express their hopes that girls will be beautiful and graceful as the doll.

I had displayed those dolls when I was very young but stopped doing this when I was high teen like as other family did. And I have no idea where those doll are now.

So I visited next door (antique shop) to take some pictures.

By the way,our next door is a treasure house. I'll report of them someday.