Princess Masako

Princess Masako, a former diplomat, made history as the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family in over two centuries.

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Birth Name :

Masako Owada

Profession :

Royal Family Member

Birthday :

December 9, 1963

Star Sign :

Sagittarius

Age :

61

Birthplace :

Tokyo, Japan

Princess Masako, born Masako Owada on December 9, 1963, in Tokyo, Japan, is the wife of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan. She is the first commoner to marry into the Japanese imperial family in over 200 years. Before her marriage, she was a successful diplomat and worked for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Masako is the eldest daughter of Hisashi Owada, a prominent diplomat and former International Court of Justice judge, and Yumiko Egashira Owada. She has two younger sisters, Setsuko and Reiko. Masako attended Futaba Gakuen, a prestigious all-girls school in Tokyo, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1985. She then studied at Balliol College, Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations in 1986.

After joining the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987, Masako served as a diplomat in various capacities, including postings in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Austria. She represented Japan at international conferences and summits. Masako met Crown Prince Naruhito, the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, in 1986. Their engagement was announced in January 1993, and they married on June 9, 1993. Upon marriage, she became Crown Princess Masako and ascended to the position of Empress of Japan on May 1, 2019, following the abdication of Emperor Akihito.

Empress Masako is actively involved in various charitable and public service initiatives, particularly in the areas of education, women’s empowerment, and international development. She serves as the Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society and has represented Japan on official visits and engagements both domestically and internationally.

Masako and Naruhito have one daughter, Princess Aiko, born on December 1, 2001. The Empress has faced health challenges, including an adjustment disorder, which limited her public appearances for several years. However, she has gradually resumed her official duties in recent years.

Empress Masako has received numerous honors, including the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown from the Japanese Imperial Family, the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic from the Spanish Royal Family, and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross from the Brazilian Government. She is fluent in English, French, and German in addition to Japanese and enjoys playing the piano, reading, and has a keen interest in art and culture. Empress Masako is known for her elegance, poise, and dedication to her royal duties.