ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 29, 1990                   TAG: 9006290251
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TOKYO                                LENGTH: Short

JAPANESE PRINCE WEDS COMMONER

Kneeling before an altar to the sun goddess and sipping sacred rice wine, Emperor Akihito's youngest son wed his college sweetheart this morning in a ceremony replete with symbolism.

The solemn 15-minute ceremony at the shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu ended with the symbolic sipping of rice wine from a white ceramic cup, sealing Prince Aya's nuptial bonds with graduate student Kiko Kawashima.

Kawashima, who has no royal background, has generally been welcomed as representing another step in bringing the palace and Japan's people closer together. Aya, 24, is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne after his elder brother, Crown Prince Naruhito, 30, who has yet to marry.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB