Her Imperial Majesty Empress Masako of Japan celebrates her 61st birthday today, December 9. Happy birthday! To mark the occasion, Japan's Imperial Household Agency released new photos of the empress and emperor taken at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
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| Photo credit: IHA of Japan |
Empress Masako was born in Tokyo as Masako Owada, the eldest daughter of Japan's senior diplomat, Hisashi Owada, who formerly served as president of the International Court of Justice. Masako grew up in foreign countries due to her father's job.
She spent her kindergarten in Moscow, Russia then moved to New York City where she finished kindergarten in Riverdale.
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| Birthday photo of Empress Masako. Credit: Imperial Household Agency |
In 1979, they settled in Boston, Massachusetts because her father worked as a guest professor of international law at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs.
Masako finished her high school at Belmont High School in Boston Massachusetts. She then studied BA Economics in Harvard University where she graduated magna cum laude in 1985. She returned to Japan and studied law at the University of Tokyo, then moved to the United Kingdom to study international relations at Balliol College, Oxford University.
She trained to become a diplomat by working for Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her dream to become a diplomat was cut short when she met and married Crown Prince Naruhito on June 9, 1993. Their only child, Princess Aiko, was born on December 1, 2001.
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| The Empress wearing various tiaras |
Masako suffered a clinical disorder called, "adjustment disorder ", due to the pressure of imperial life. Her inability to give birth to a son added stress to her mental state. She ultimately withdrew from public life after the birth of Princess Aiko to recuperate.Â
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| Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko spending sunmer vacation this year. Photo credit: Imperial Household Agency.  |
The abdication of her father-in-law, Akihito, in 2019, brought focus once again to Masako as she needed to emerge in public and resumed royal duty as the new Empress of Japan.
However, she surprised everyone on how she handled very well her present status as a wife of the emperor of world's oldest monarchy. She often appeared with the emperor in public and just this June they traveled to the UK for a state visit.
Wishing Empress Masako a happy birthday today and excellent health!
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