Elizabeth Vining with Crown Prince Akihito (second from right) and his Peers School classmates, 1946
Tokyo, Japan

Elizabeth Gray Vining was an American schoolteacher, librarian, and author who tutored Prince Akihito in English. She was personally selected by Emperor Hirohito to mentor the Crown Prince between 1946 and 1950, and was awarded the Order of the Sacred Crown, third class, for her work with the Imperial Family.

National Archives and Records Administration, Still Picture Unit, 306-NT-1150-K-11