Japan

Royal Wedding Rewind: Crown Prince Naruhito and Masako Owada

We are taking a look back at the wedding of the Emperor and Empress of Japan: Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan’s engagement to diplomat Masako Owada was announced on 19 January 1993. The pair had become engaged on Masako’s 29 birthday, 9 December 1992; Masako finally accepted Naruhito’s proposal on his third attempt as she had turned him down twice before because she did not…
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JapanJordan

Jordanian royals travel to Japan and meet the Emperor and Empress

King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan have travelled to Japan with their eldest child, Crown Prince Hussein, for a business visit that also included a meeting with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. The trip is an opportunity for the Jordanian King to strengthen ties between the two countries. Meetings have also been scheduled with Japan’s highest-ranking officials, from Prime…
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Japan

A first for Emperor Naruhito’s reign

Japanese Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Japanese throne four years ago, after his father’s abdication, but this is the first time he has been able to give a public birthday address.  Due to the global pandemic, the yearly tradition was repeatedly cancelled. Though…
Japan

Emperor Naruhito opens a monumental year with a speech full of hope

Japanese Emperor Naruhito has released a New Year message filled with hope for the future while also recognising the hardships that the world is enduring. In his traditional New Year address, the Emperor is seen sitting in a room of the Imperial Palace alongside the Empress and their daughter, Princess Aiko.  In front of them was a statuette of a rabbit, symbolising the entrance to this new…
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Asian RoyalsBritish RoyalsJapanQueen Elizabeth II

Empress Masako kept health a priority in rare travel to attend the Queen's funeral

When the plane carrying the Japanese delegation to London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral landed at Stanstead Airport, many royal watchers were surprised to see Empress Masako accompanying her husband. She rarely makes trips outside of Japan; in fact, her last foreign visit dates back to 2015, when, still the Crown Princess, she travelled to Tonga for an official visit. Some…
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