Masako, Crown Princess of Japan Born December 9, 1963 (1963-12-09) (age 43) Tokyo, Japan Title Crown Princess of Japan Spouse Naruhito Children Aiko Parents Hisashi Owada

Imperial House of Japan HIM The Emperor HIM The Empress    HIH The Crown Prince    HIH The Crown Princess       HIH Princess Toshi    HIH Prince Akishino    HIH Princess Akishino       HIH Princess Mako       HIH Princess Kako       HIH Prince Hisahito HIH Prince Hitachi HIH Princess Hitachi HIH Prince Mikasa HIH Princess Mikasa    HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa    HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa       HIH Princess Akiko       HIH Princess Yōko    HIH Prince Katsura    HIH Princess Takamado       HIH Princess Tsuguko       HIH Princess Noriko       HIH Princess Ayako

Masako, Crown Princess of Japan (雅子皇太子妃殿下, Masako kōtaishihi denka, the Crown Princess Masako^?, born December 9, 1963, Tokyo, Japan) is the wife of Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, the first son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko, and a member of the Japanese imperial family through marriage. December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Princess Aiko, The Princess Toshi (敬宮愛子内親王殿下 Toshi no miya Aiko naishinnō denka), born December 1, 2001, is the first child of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito, former heir apparent to the Japanese throne, and Crown Princess Masako. ... Hisashi Owada (小和田 恆) (b. ... Image File history File links Imperial_Seal_of_Japan. ... Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. ... Akihito () (born December 23, 1933) is the current Emperor ) of Japan, the 125th person to hold that title, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Empress Michiko of Japan, (born October 20, 1934) formerly Michiko Shōda (正田 美智子 Shōda Michiko) and later the Crown Princess of Japan (April 10, 1959 to January 7, 1989), is the wife and consort of the reigning Emperor of Japan, HIM Emperor Akihito. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Princess Aiko, The Princess Toshi (敬宮愛子内親王殿下 Toshi no miya Aiko naishinnō denka), born December 1, 2001, is the first child of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito, former heir apparent to the Japanese throne, and Crown Princess Masako. ... Prince Akishino (Fumihito) of Japan (秋篠宮文仁親王殿下 Akishino-no-miya Fumihito shinnō denka) also known as Prince Fumihito (文仁親王 Fumihito shinnō) (born 30 November 1965) is a member of the Japanese imperial family. ... Princess Akishino ), formerly Kiko Kawashima , born 11 September 1966) is the wife of Prince Akishino, who is the second son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko of Japan. ... Princess Mako Akishino of Japan (秋篠宮眞子内親王殿下 Akishino-no-miya Mako naishinnō denka; born 23 October 1991) the elder daughter of Prince Akishino (Fumuhito) and his wife, the former Kawashima Kiko, is a member of the Japanese imperial family. ... Princess Kako Akishino of Japan (秋篠宮佳子内親王殿下 Akishino-no-miya Kako naishinnō denka) (born 29 December 1994) the second daughter of Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and his wife, the former Kawashima Kiko, is a member of the Japanese imperial family. ... His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino , 6 September 2006-) is the third child of Prince and Princess Akishino, and their first son. ... Prince Hitachi (Masahito) of Japan (常陸宮正仁親王, Hitachi no miya Masahito Shinnō) (born 28 November 1935) is a member of the Japanese imperial family and the younger brother of the Emperor Akihito. ... Princess Hitachi (Hanako) of Japan (jp:常陸宮正仁親王妃華子, Hitachi no miya Hanako shinnō-hi), née Hanako Tsugaru (津軽華子 Tsugaru Hanako), was born on 19 July 1940. ... His Imperial Highness, Prince Mikasa (Takahito) of Japan (Mikasa no miya Takahito Shinnō; born December 15, 1915) is the fourth and youngest son of the Emperor Taishō and the Empress Teimei. ... Princess Mikasa (Yoriko) of Japan, (Mikasa-no-miya Yuriko shinnō-hi) 三笠宮妃百合子, née Yoriko Takagi, second daughter of Masanari Takagi, born 4 June 1923. ... Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (三笠宮寬仁 Mikasa-no-miya Tomohito shinnō), eldest son of the current HIH Prince Mikasa and HIH Princess Mikasa (Yuriko). ... Princess Tomohito of Mikasa (寛仁親王妃信子) was born on April 9, 1955. ... Princess Akiko of Mikasa (born 20 December 1981) is the eldest daughter of HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa. ... Princess Yōko of Mikasa 瑶子女王 (born 25 October 1983) is the second daughter of HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. ... Prince Katsura (Yoshihito) of Japan (æ¡‚å®® 宜仁親王, Katsura-no-miya Yoshihito shinnō) (11 February 1948) is the second son of Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. ... Princess Takamado (Hisako) of Japan, (憲仁親王妃久子Takamado no miya Hisako shinnō-hi), née Hisako Tottori, eldest daughter of Shigejiro Tottori, (born 10 July 1953). ... Princess Tsuguko of Takamado (承子女王殿下) is the daughter of the late His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado and Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (born 8 March 1986). ... Princess Noriko of Takamado is the daughter of the late His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado and Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (born 22 July 1988). ... Princess Ayako of Takamado (承子女王殿下) is the daughter of the late His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado and Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (born 15 September 1990). ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Akihito () (born December 23, 1933) is the current Emperor ) of Japan, the 125th person to hold that title, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Empress Michiko of Japan, (born October 20, 1934) formerly Michiko Shōda (正田 美智子 Shōda Michiko) and later the Crown Princess of Japan (April 10, 1959 to January 7, 1989), is the wife and consort of the reigning Emperor of Japan, HIM Emperor Akihito. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

She was born Masako Owada (小和田 雅子, Owada Masako^?), the eldest daughter of Hisashi Owada, a senior diplomat. She has two younger sisters, twins named Setsuko and Reiko. Masako went to live in Moscow, Russia with her parents when she was two years old, and attended kindergarten in Moscow. Upon returning to Japan, she attended a private girl's school, Denenchofu Futaba, in Tokyo from elementary school through her second year of senior high school. Masako and her family moved to the United States when her father became a guest professor at Harvard University and also vice ambassador to the United States. She graduated from Belmont High School in Belmont, Massachusetts, near Boston, where she was president of the National Honor Society. Hisashi Owada (小和田 恆) (b. ... This page is about negotiations; for the board game, see Diplomacy (game). ... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ... Belmont High School in Belmont, Massachusetts was built in 1970 at a cost of $9 million. ...   Settled: 1636 â€“ Incorporated: 1859 Zip Code(s): 02478 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Established in 1921, the National Honor Society (NHS) is recognition program for middle and high school students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. ...

Princess Masako holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) magna cum laude in Economics from Harvard University and attended but did not finish the graduate course in International Relations at Balliol College, Oxford University. She also studied briefly at the University of Tokyo, where her father taught. A B.A. issused as a certificate Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. ... Face-to-face trading interactions on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor. ... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      International relations (IR), a branch of political science, is the study of foreign affairs and global issues among states within the international system, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). ... Full name Balliol College Motto - Named after John de Balliol Previous names - Established 1263 Sister College St Johns College, Cambridge Master Andrew Graham (academic) Location Broad Street Undergraduates 403 Graduates 228 Homepage Boatclub Balliol College, founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The University of Tokyo ), abbreviated as Todai ), is one of the leading research universities in Japan. ...

Masako was formerly employed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she worked with her father, the Director General and prospective Vice Minister. During her career she met many world leaders, such as U.S. president Bill Clinton and Russian president Boris Yeltsin. She also took part as a translator in negotiations with the United States concerning superconductors. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省; gaimu-sho) is one of the ministries of the Japanese government. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... The President of Russia (ru: Президент России is the highest position within the Government of Russia. ... Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (Russian: ) (February 1, 1931 – April 23, 2007[1]) was the first president of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. ... Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring in certain materials at low temperatures, characterised by the complete absence of electrical resistance and the damping of the interior magnetic field (the Meissner effect. ...

Marriage

Masako first met the Crown Prince when she was a student at the University of Tokyo in November of 1986, although some say they had actually met previously when her father served as an escort to members of the royal family. Masako and the Crown Prince were spotted together many times in public throughout 1987.

Masako's name disappeared from the list of possible imperial brides due to controversy about her grandfather, Chairman of Chisso, a corporation infamous for the Minamata disease pollution scandal. Behind the scenes, however, the relationship with the prince continued. The Prince proposed several times before Masako eventually gave her consent. The Imperial Palace announced the engagement on January 19, 1993. The news came as a huge surprise to the Japanese public, who thought the relationship had ended long before. Minamata disease ), sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease ), is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Crown Prince and Masako were married in a traditional wedding ceremony on June 9, 1993. June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Family and succession

Princess Aiko

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have one child, HIH The Princess Aiko (her official title is Toshi no Miya, or Princess Toshi), born on December 1, 2001. HIH can refer to: His/Her Imperial Highness, a title. ... Princess Aiko, The Princess Toshi (敬宮愛子内親王殿下 Toshi no miya Aiko naishinnō denka), born December 1, 2001, is the first child of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito, former heir apparent to the Japanese throne, and Crown Princess Masako. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The child's birth, which occurred more than eight years after her parents' marriage, sparked lively debate in Japan about whether the The Imperial Household Law of 1947 should be changed from that of primogeniture (male-preference) to equal primogeniture, which would allow a woman to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne. The Japanese Imperial succession controversy refers to the question of whether Japans laws of succession under the The Imperial Household Law of 1947 should be changed from male-only primogeniture to equal primogeniture. ... The Imperial Household Law of 1947 was passed during the Showa era on January 16, 1947. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Imperial Seal of Japan. ...

A government-appointed panel of experts submitted a report on October 25, 2005, recommending that the Imperial succession law be amended to permit equal primogeniture. On January 20, 2006, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi used part of his annual keynote speech to address the controversy when he pledged to submit a bill to the Diet letting women ascend to the throne in order that the imperial throne be continued into the future in a stable manner. Koizumi did not announce a timing for the legislation to be introduced nor did he provide details about the content but he did note that it would be in line with the conclusions of the 2005 government panel. October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Junichiro Koizumi , born January 8, 1942) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. ... The National Diet of Japan ) is Japans legislature. ...

It has been widely speculated that the immense pressure to produce an heir rather than pursuing her career as a diplomat has put great stress on the Crown Princess.^[1][2] The Japanese Constitution does not allow the members of the royal family to engage in political activities. The Prince has made pointed and controversial comments about discourtesies and pressures placed on his wife by the Imperial Household Agency and his wife's desire to pursue the life of a diplomat.^[3] Imperial Household Agency building on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo The Imperial Household Agency ) is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japans imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal. ...

Nephew

Plans to change the male-only law of imperial succession were shelved temporarily after it was announced in February 2006 that the Crown Prince's younger brother, Prince Akishino, and his wife Princess Kiko were expecting their third child. On September 6, 2006, at 8:27 a.m. (Japan Standard Time), Princess Kiko gave birth to a son, Hisahito, who is third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne under the current law, after his uncle, the Crown Prince and his father, Prince Akishino. Prince Akishino (Fumihito) of Japan (秋篠宮文仁親王殿下 Akishino-no-miya Fumihito shinnō denka) also known as Prince Fumihito (文仁親王 Fumihito shinnō) (born 30 November 1965) is a member of the Japanese imperial family. ... HIH Princess Kiko Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino (秋篠宮紀子親王妃 akishino no miya kiko shinnōhi), née Kawashima Kiko (川島紀子), (born 11 September 1966), is the wife of Prince Akishino (Fumihito), the second son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko, and a member of the Japanese imperial family through marriage. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Japan Standard Time (日本標準時 or 中央標準時) is the standard timezone in Japan that is 9 hours ahead of UTC; i. ... His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino , 6 September 2006-) is the third child of Prince and Princess Akishino, and their first son. ...

References

External links

Styles of The Crown Princess of Japan
Reference style	Her Imperial Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial Highness
Japanese	denka 殿下

Biographies: Image File history File links Imperial_Seal_of_Japan. ... A style of office, or honorific, is a form of address which by tradition or law precedes a reference to a person who holds a title or post, or to the political office itself. ... His/Her Imperial Highness (abbreviation HIH) is a title used by members of an Imperial family to denote Imperial - as opposed to royal - status to show that the holder in question is descended from an Emperor rather than a King (compare His/Her Royal Highness). ...

• Who2 profile
• Profile at kjeld.com | Crown Princess Masako
• Hello! Magazine | Japan's Masako
• Kunaicho | Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako
• Imperial Household Denies Exerting Pressure Over Masako Book 19th February 2007
• Website of Ben Hills, Author of Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne
• The Sunday Times | Land of the rising daughter June 4, 2006