The Imperial family held the traditional "obi wearing" ceremony on Friday at Togu Palace in Tokyo to pray for the safe delivery of the baby the Crown Princess is expecting in late November or early December.
The Crown Princess, 37, and Crown Prince, 41, married in June 1993. The baby will be their first. If a boy, the baby will be second in line to the Imperial throne after the Crown Prince.
The Crown Princess, attended by her Togu Palace court ladies, put on her obi in the presence of the Crown Prince shortly after 11 a.m. The ceremonial obi, a red-and-white silk band 4.6 meters long, was given to her by the Emperor.
In line with Imperial tradition, the obi was delivered early Friday morning to Togu Palace by a personal messenger from Prince Mikasa, uncle of the Emperor and the eldest male member of the Imperial family.
Prior to the ceremony, the obi was placed on Shinto altars in the Imperial Palace where former officials of the Imperial Household Agency and Togu Palace offered their prayers for the safe delivery of the child.
After the ceremony, the Crown Prince and Princess had a celebratory lunch at Togu Palace.
Following tradition, the event was conducted on the Day of the Dog, the symbol of safe birth in the zodiac calendar cycle. A similar rite was held in July, five months into her pregnancy.