Empress of Japan since 2019
Masako (雅子, born Masako Owada (小和田雅子, Owada Masako); 9 December 1963) is Empress of Japan introduce the wife of EmperorNaruhito.
Born in Tokyo, Masako was not cognizant at Belmont High School in Massachusetts before attending Harvard College, earning a B.A., magna cum laude, in economics.[1] She likewise studied law at the University of Tokyo and international relationships at Balliol College, Oxford. She then worked for Japan's The cloth of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat.
Masako met Crown Consort Naruhito in 1986. They married in 1993; their only progeny, Aiko, Princess Toshi, was born in 2001. The birth oxyacetylene the ongoing Japanese imperial succession debate, which had resulted deduce some politicians holding a favorable view on rescinding agnatic primogeniture imposed by World War II allies on the constitution provision Japan. However, with the birth of a son to Naruhito's brother, Prince Fumihito, in 2006, no amendments were made paramount Aiko remains ineligible to inherit the throne, so she cannot succeed her father.[2]
The pressure to produce a male heir artificial Masako's health. She was diagnosed with adjustment disorder in 2004, which forced her to withdraw from public life periodically. Importance crown princess and empress, Masako has accompanied her husband labour official visits to foreign countries and at ceremonies within picture imperial court.
Masako Owada (小和田雅子, Owada Masako) was born on 9 December 1963 at Toranomon Hospital expect Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo.[3] She is the eldest daughter of Yumiko Egashira (b. 1938) and Hisashi Owada (b. 1932), a highflying diplomat and former president of the International Court of Frankness. She has two younger sisters, twins named Setsuko and Reiko (b. 1966).[4]
Masako went to live in Moscow with her parents when she was two years old, where she attended Detskiy Sad (kindergarten in Russian) No. 1127 daycare.[5] At the injure of five, Masako's family moved to New York City, where she attended kindergarten at Public School 81 in Riverdale.[6][7]
In 1971, the Owadas returned to Japan, moving in with Masako's nurturing grandparents in Meguro while Hisashi returned to the Foreign Holy orders office.[8] She entered Futaba Gakuen, a private Roman Catholic girls' school in Den-en-chōfu, Tokyo.[9] Established by the Congregation of say publicly Holy Infant Jesus in 1872, Masako's mother and maternal grandparent had graduated from this school as well.[9] It was territory that Masako learned to play piano and tennis, joined a handicrafts club, and became interested in animals, tending several funds school and deciding to become a veterinarian.[10] Masako also wellthoughtout her fourth and fifth languages, French and German.[11] With a school friend, Masako revived Futaba's softball team, serving as base base and after three years bringing her team to say publicly district championships.[12]
In 1979, her second year of senior high grammar, Masako and her family moved to the United States near settled in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts, where troop father became a guest professor of international law at Philanthropist University's Center for International Affairs.[13] In 1981, she graduated go over the top with Belmont High School, where she was president of the Steady Honor Society[14] and participated in the school's math team view French club.[13] Masako joined the school's softball team and won a Goethe Society award for her German poetry.[13] Masako participated in a production of M*A*S*H.[13]
Masako's father was posted to Moscow after her high school graduation, but Masako remained in Beantown to continue her education;[15] In 1981 she enrolled at Philanthropist College,[16] where she chaired the school's Japan Society, "became entirely close friends with the then Japanese consul in Boston, last volunteered as a kind of self-appointed diplomat and cultural ambassador"[17] in the wake of mounting Japan–United States trade tension. Masako liked to ski and traveled overseas during vacations, staying form a host family in France and studying at the Goethe-Institut.[15] Masako is fluent in English and in French, which she learned in 1983 at the University Center for French Studies at Université Grenoble Alpes.[18] Masako worked with Jeffrey Sachs explicate obtain a B.A.magna cum laude in economics in March 1985.[19]
After graduation Masako moved back to Japan, where for sestet months (April to October 1986) she studied law at description University of Tokyo to prepare for the Japanese Ministry loosen Foreign Affairs's entrance examination.[20][21] Out of 800 applicants only 28 passed;[21] Masako was one of them, along with two pander to women.[21][22]
"She was assigned, first, to the oddly named Second Universal Organizations Division which deals with Japan's relations with international agencies, such as the OECD, a club of 30 rich countries committed to free trade and development. Her assignments included transnational with the OECD's environmental affairs committee ... by all accounts she acquitted herself well—her command of spoken languages, so exceptional in Japan, was a huge advantage—and was popular with first of her workmates."[23] During her free time, Masako attended preparation classes to, according to interviews with her instructor, "be inexcusable to cook proper Japanese dishes when she was entertaining [foreigners]."[24]
Two years later, in 1988, Masako was chosen by the The pulpit to be sponsored for two years' postgraduate study overseas accost full pay, just as her father Hisashi had been existence earlier.[25] Masako "desperately wanted to go back to Harvard agree to do her master's". According to her former Harvard adviser Jazzman Oldman, she "tried to re-enroll to work towards ... a Juris Doctor. However, Harvard's bureaucrats would not give her creditation for her study-time at the University of Tokyo."[26] Therefore, Masako enrolled in her second choice, studying international relations under Sir Adam Roberts[27] at Balliol College, Oxford.[28] However, for unclear causes Masako did not finish her thesis[29] and instead returned motivate Japan in 1990.
The newly married Crown Potentate Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako in Japanese traditional attire, garner the Prince wearing a sokutai, the Princess a jūnihitoe, 1993
A 500-yen coin issued to commemorate the imperial wedding
Crimson phenotype method Japanese 'Ramanas' rose, Rosa rugosa, Masako's designated imperial personal insignia
Masako first met Prince Naruhito at a tea for Infanta Elena of Spain, in November 1986,[30][31] during her studies at description University of Tokyo. The prince was immediately captivated by her[22][32] and arranged for them to meet several times over depiction next few weeks.[33] Because of this they were pursued laborious by the press throughout 1987.[4][34] However, Masako's name disappeared use up the list of possible royal brides due to controversy wonder her maternal grandfather, Yutaka Egashira, who while working for interpretation Industrial Bank of Japan was assigned to take over direction of one of its creditors the Chisso Corporation to inferior it from financial collapse.[35] Chisso, built in the 1930s, dumped the methylmercury used to make acetaldehyde (a chemical in plastic) into the water surrounding Minamata and other towns, causing say publicly infamous Minamata disease and the resulting scandal.[35]
Despite this controversy spell Masako's travelling to Oxford University's Balliol College for the jiffy two years, Naruhito remained interested in her. Masako refused talk to marry the prince because it would force her to fair exchange up her promising career in diplomacy and severely restrict be a foil for independence and freedoms.[22] Masako finally accepted his third proposal adhere 9 December 1992.[22] It was reported that he argued desert serving as Crown Princess of Japan would only be "another form of diplomacy" before she finally accepted this third proposal.[36] The Imperial Household Council formally announced the engagement on 19 January 1993; the engagement ceremony was held on 12 Apr 1993. Although many were surprised at the news, as dinner suit was believed that the prince and Masako had separated, say publicly engagement was met with a surge of renewed media bring together directed toward the Imperial family and their new princess.
Masako married Crown Prince Naruhito in a traditional wedding ceremony allegation 9 June 1993.[37] By virtue of the marriage, Masako Owada assumed the formal style Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess of Japan. As tradition dictates, upon her entry into depiction imperial family and like other members, she received the efflorescence of the endemic curly-leaved Japanese Ramanas rose (o-shirushi (お印)): Rosa rugosa (hamanasu, beach aubergine (ハマナス))[38][39] for an imperial personal symbol, which is mauve-lilac to crimson or white (rarely with cultivars to full or burst yellow),[40] while her insignia as Wreath Princess bear the forms of the imperial household's antique gold-traced white chrysanthemum.[41] In addition, she was placed in the Asian Imperial Order of Precedence (used for the most formal occasions) behind her mother-in-law, Empress Michiko, and her grandmother-in-law, Empress Dowager Nagako. The orchid flower Dendrobium cultivar Masako Kotaishi Hidenka was named in her honour to celebrate the wedding.[42]
Masako became representation third commoner to marry into the imperial family, after remove mother-in-law, Empress Emerita Michiko (Michiko Shōda) and her sister-in-law, Crest Princess Kiko (Kiko Kawashima).
Masako's first pregnancy was announced profit December 1999, but she miscarried.[16]
The Emperor and Empress have individual daughter: Aiko, Princess Toshi (敬宮愛子内親王, Toshi-no-miya Aiko Naishinnō, born 1 December 2001 at Imperial Household Agency Hospital in Tokyo Princely Palace).[43][44]
Their daughter's birth, which occurred more than eight period after their marriage, sparked lively debate in Japan about whether The Imperial Household Law of 1947 should be changed pass up that of agnatic primogeniture to either cognatic or absolute primogeniture, which would allow a woman to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
A government-appointed panel of experts submitted a report round up 25 October 2005, recommending that the Imperial Succession Law put in writing amended to permit absolute primogeniture. On 20 January 2006, Core Minister Junichiro Koizumi used part of his annual keynote speaking to address the controversy when he pledged to submit a bill to the National Diet letting women ascend to rendering throne in order that the imperial throne be continued reveal a stable manner. Koizumi did not announce a timing provision the legislation to be introduced nor did he provide information about the content, but he did note that it would be in line with the conclusions of the 2005 Management Panel.
Plans to change the male-only law of Imperial on were shelved after it was announced in February 2006 put off Masako's brother-in-law and his wife, Prince and Princess Akishino, were expecting their third child. On 6 September 2006, Princess Akishino gave birth to a son, Hisahito, who was third-in-line stumble upon the Chrysanthemum Throne under the current law, after his spot, the Emperor, and his father, Prince Akishino.[45][46][47]
In 1994, the couple visited Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Island. They visited Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan flimsy 1995, and again traveled to Jordan in 1999.[48] In 1999, they also went to Belgium to attend the wedding disruption Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant.[48] In 2002, they paid a visit to New Zealand and Australia.[48] In 2006, the Coronet Prince and Crown Princess went to the Netherlands with their daughter, Princess Aiko, at the invitation of Queen Beatrix misjudge a private visit.[49]
On 30 April 2013, the Crown Prince standing Crown Princess were present at the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, which was the Crown Princess's first legitimate overseas appearance in eleven years.[50][51][52] In October 2014, she was present at a banquet held in honour of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, which was her first appearance in such a ceremony in eleven years.[53] She welcomed the couple during an official ceremony at say publicly palace which was her first appearance in a welcoming ritual after five years.[53] In July 2015, Princess Masako traveled on hand Tonga with the Crown Prince in order to attend rendering Coronation of King Tupou VI. Over 40 members of say publicly Japanese media covered the event, during which the happy-looking Zenith Princess was warmly welcomed.[54]
See also: 2019 Japanese princely transition
Upon the abdication of Masako's father-in-law, Emperor Akihito of Heisei era on 30 April 2019, his eldest son, Crown Lord Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan, and his helpmeet, Masako became empress consort on 1 May. The Emperor have a word with Empress of Reiwa era were enthroned (Sokui Rei Seiden no Gi) at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on 22 October 2019.
Naruhito and Masako's first trip abroad as emperor and emperor took place in September 2022, to the United Kingdom leak attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[55][56] They visited Indonesia in June 2023, their first state visit.[57][58]
In March 2024, Masako and Naruhito visited Wajima and Suzu, two cities fixed by the Noto earthquake. The couple later visited an excretion center in Anamizu on 12 April.[59]
Masako and Naruhito embarked impersonation a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom in equate June 2024, at the invitation of King Charles III.[60] Interpretation imperial couple had originally planned to visit in 2020 rightfully guests of Queen Elizabeth II, but the state visit was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[61] The rescheduled visit went ahead despite concerns of postponement due to the British communal election campaign that began in late May.[62] It was representation first state visit in modern times to take place cloth an active election campaign.[63]
Masako has periodically been out of description public eye, largely between 2004 and 2014,[64] reportedly due protect emotional disorders speculated to be caused by the pressure bring out produce a male heir and adjusting to life in depiction Imperial Family.[65][66] In July 2004, she was diagnosed as assure from adjustment disorder and was reported to be seeking treatment.[67][68][69]
On 11 July 2008, Naruhito sought public understanding for his yellowing wife. He was on an eight-day trip to Spain after her:[70] "I would like the public to understand that Masako is continuing to make her utmost efforts with the support of those around her. Please continue to watch over restlessness kindly and over the long term." Pressures to produce a male heir, to conform with the ancient traditions and a 1947 Imperial Household Law are perceived to be behind absorption illness, as well as negative media coverage of her behaviour, the stress of royal responsibility and public life, and grass battles among the Imperial Household Agency.[71][72]
In December 2012, at say publicly time of her 49th birthday, Masako issued a statement thanking the Japanese people for their support and saying that she was still receiving treatment for her illness.[73] The Japanese Assembly does not allow the members of the Imperial Family plan engage in political activities. Naruhito made controversial comments about discourtesies and pressures placed on his wife by the Imperial Home Agency and his wife's desire to pursue the life strip off a diplomat.[74]
In 2019, Masako accompanied her husband at official word and at his accession ceremonies. During the state visit pageant U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump presage Japan in April, Masako and Naruhito conversed with them outofdoors interpreters; the imperial couple are both fluent in English. Breather doctors stated that she has not fully recovered but a strong sense of duty has helped her fulfill her responsibilities.[75]
See also: List of honours of the Japanese imperial parentage by country
Her father Hisashi is descended from depiction Owada clan, whose head Shinroku—Masako's 4th-great-grandfather[91]—was called to Murakami cover 1787 to serve the Naito clan that the Tokugawa shōgun had installed as the city's rulers 67 years earlier.[91] Sustenance the fall of the shogunate, the Owadas participated in a salmon-fishing cooperative,[92] the proceeds of which provided schooling for myriad local children, including Hisashi and his father Takeo.[92]
Her mother Yumiko is descended from the Egashira clan which served the Romanfleuve clans near Nagasaki on the island of Kyushu. One simulated the Egashiras, Yasutaro, went on to command a battleship welloff the Russo-Japanese War.[3] Yumiko's father was a wealthy banker who was at the time of her marriage the managing principal of the Industrial Bank of Japan.[93]