ROLL NO. 1: General shot of the horse and carriage rehearsal of the wedding. The procession is headed by eight police horses, the Crown Prince's flag bearer and the carriage carrying Akihito and his wife. Medium shot of the Crown Prince's carriage. The mounted police escorts riding along the carriage.



ROLL NO 2: The three carriages travelling around the riding club. Pan shot of the Crown' Prince's carriage. Bird's eye view of the mounted police escorts. Uniformed attendants standing on the back of the Crown' Prince's carriage.




Initials



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Background: The wedding of Crown Prince Akihito and Miss Michiko Shoda is expected around April 10th.

Wedding plans are already being made by the Imperial Household Board, the government agency which arranges all matters concerning the Imperial family.

On Feb. 4th the local press as well as foreign newsreel and TV agencies are invited to view the horses and carriages that will be used to transport the newly wedded Imperial couple on the day of the wedding.

A total of 42 specially trained horses from the Imperial Household Board and the Metropolitan Police Board are assembled in the Palace Hiding Club Grounds located within the Imperial Palace on Feb. 4th at 1:00 p.m. specially purchased the horses for mounted police duty. The remaining 16 horses to the Imperial Household Board which have been in constant training.

Of the three carriages taking part in today's most rehearsal, the first carriage will carry Akihito and Miss Shoda and the following two carriages will carry the attendants and close relatives.