The father of Crown Princess Masako of Japan, Hisashi Owada, is retiring from his judgeship at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. In addition to Crown Princess Masako, he is also the father of twins Reiko and Setsuko by his wife, Yumiko Egashira.
Hisashi Owada has been a
member of the International Court of Justice in The Hague since
2003 and acted as its president between 2009 and 2012. While he
lived in The Netherlands, his daughter visited him twice.
Hisashi Owada earned his B.A. from the University of Tokyo in
1955 and joined the Diplomatic and Consular service, which is now
known as the Foreign Service. After receiving sponsorship from the
Foreign Minister, he was sent to study at Trinity College Cambridge
where he earned his law degree in 1959 and a doctorate of
philosophy. He then served as a law professor for 30 years at
the University of Tokyo, Harvard Law School, New
York University Law School, Columbia Law School,
the Hague Academy of International Law, Waseda
University, and the University of Cambridge. He has received
honorary degrees from Keiwa College, Banaras Hindu
University, and Waseda University.
He served as a diplomat in Moscow from 1963 until 1969 and at
the United Nations from 1969 to 1971. His daughter Crown Princess
Masako was also a diplomat in her own right before she married
Crown Prince Naruhito. Hisashi Owada was chosen to accompany
Emperor Hirohito on his first trip to Europe. He also served as
private secretary to the Prime Minister of Japan from 1979 to 1981.
He became the Japanese ambassador to the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris before returned
to Japan. From 1994 until 1998, he
served Japanese Ambassador to the United
Nations.
Hisashi Owada has presented professor Yuji Iwasa as his
successor, but that will need to be voted upon.
