by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
Credit – Wikipedia
Masako Owada was born at Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo, Japan on December 9, 1963, the eldest daughter of Hisashi Owada and Yumiko Egashira. Her father, Hisashi Owada, is a former Japanese diplomat and served as Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations and as a member of the International Court of Justice, located in the Netherlands.
Due to her father’s diplomatic posts, Masako began her schooling first in Moscow, and then in New York City, before the family returned to Japan in 1971. She attended Futaba Gakuen, a private Roman Catholic girls’ school in Tokyo. In 1979, the family returned to the US, settling in Belmont, Massachusetts while her father was a visiting professor at Harvard University. She graduated from Belmont High School in 1981 and enrolled at Radcliffe College, part of Harvard University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in economics in 1985, after which she returned to Japan and attended the University of Tokyo, studying law for several months while preparing to sit for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs‘ entrance exam. After two years working for the Foreign Ministry, she enrolled at Balliol College, Oxford University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Relations.
Masako and Naruhito on their wedding day; Photo: Imperial Household Agency
In 1986, Masako met her future husband Emperor Naruhito of Japan at a tea held in honor of Infanta Elena of Spain. Despite disapproval from the Imperial Household Agency (as Masako was a commoner), and Masako leaving Japan for several years to study abroad, the two continued their relationship. Naruhito proposed several times, however, Masako turned him down each time. Agreeing to marry the future Japanese Emperor would mean giving up her career in diplomacy and her independence, and having to conform to the strict guidelines of the Imperial Household. Finally, Naruhito convinced Masako that her diplomatic skills could be used differently, as his wife and future Empress, and she accepted his third proposal in December 1992. Their engagement was announced in January 1993, and the formal engagement ceremony was held that April. Finally, On June 9, 1993, Naruhito and Masako were married in a traditional ceremony at the Imperial Shinto Hall in Tokyo. Following the ceremony, and a change into more contemporary attire, the newly married couple processed through the streets of Tokyo.
Naruhito, Masako, and Aiko; Credit – Wikipedia
The couple has one daughter:
- Princess Aiko (born 2001)
In the early years of their marriage, Masako often accompanied her husband on foreign visits and participated in most official functions at the Imperial Palace. However, by 2003, she was rarely seen in public at all. The following year, it was announced that she was suffering from adjustment disorder. However, many speculated that she was dealing with clinical depression, brought on by the pressures and constraints placed upon her by the strict Imperial Household Agency. It would be many years before she would return to the public eye.
Masako and Naruhito at the Dutch investiture, 2013. Photo: Zimbio
In a statement released for her 49th birthday in 2012, Masako thanked the Japanese people for their “warm continued support” and stated she continues to make progress with the help of her doctors and those around her. She began to appear more often at official events at the Imperial Palace and around Japan, always at the side of her husband. Perhaps because of the kindness previously extended by former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and the fact that her parents were then based in The Hague, Masako accompanied her husband to the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in 2013. In July 2015, Masako traveled to Tonga with her husband to attend the coronation of King Tupou VI. Her doctors stated that Masako has not fully recovered but her strong sense of duty has helped her fulfill her responsibilities
Empress Masako at the enthronement ceremony on October 22, 2019; Credit – Wikipedia
On December 1, 2017, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that Emperor Akihito would abdicate on April 30, 2019, and that his elder son Crown Prince Naruhito, Masako’s husband would become Emperor and Masako would become Empress. On May 1, 2019, Naruhito ascended the throne as Emperor of Japan and the Presentation of the Three Sacred Treasures ceremony occurred. Several more ceremonies occurred – October 22, 2019: Enthronement Ceremony (Sokui-Rei) and November 14-15, 2019: Great Thanksgiving Festival (Daijo-sai). See the link below for more information about the accession and enthronement ceremonies.
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