Masako Owada was born to Hisahi and Yumiko Owada on December 9th 1963. Masako's father was a senior Japanese diplomat and a former president of the International Court of Justice. She has two younger twin sisters, Setsuko and Reiko.
During her childhood Masako spent 3 years in Moscow, Rusia where she started kindergarten and then went to live in New York, USA for 3 years and continued her early schooling years. In 1971 at the age of 8 her family returned to Japan. Masako completed the remainder of her education in Tokyo until 1979, when she was in grade 10. Her parents moved back to the USA, this time to Boston, Massachusetts where Masako would finish high school. After high school Masako won an Economics scholarship to Harvard. During her time at university she spent some time abroad in France. Masako Owada graduated with a Bachelor of Economics.
When Masako finished studying she returned to Japan and did a crash course in law before taking up a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1986 at a tea for Infanta Elena of Spain Masako Owada met Prince Natuhito of Japan, 3rd in line to the Japanese throne. Masako and Naruhito who was now Crown Prince of Japan married on 9th June 1993. On 1st December 2001 the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had a daughter, Aiko, Princess Toshi.
Empress Masako makes appearances with her husband Naruhito at ceremonies and events. She is also Honorary Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross Society. Unfortunately due to emotional stress Princess Masako has not been seen too much since 2002.
On April 30th 2019 Emperor Akihito abdicated due to his age and failing health, the following day Naruhito was crowned and Emperor and Masako became Empress Masako of Japan.
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