Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako's courtship history

The romantic history between Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan is characterized by a long courtship that deviated from traditional royal narratives. The two first met in 1986 at a royal party, when Masako Owada was a 22-year-old diplomat with a highly promising career. Having studied at Harvard and the University of Tokyo, Masako was focused on her international diplomatic path and initially hesitated to enter royal life due to the strict constraints and responsibilities involved.

Naruhito pursued a relationship with Masako for several years, even as she traveled to the United Kingdom for her studies. The courtship eventually led to marriage after Naruhito made a significant personal commitment to her, promising, ‘I will use my whole life to protect you.’