Celebrity File Japan by Lint


		重要語句
■ When it was announced in 1993 that Miss Masako Owada was engaged Crown Prince Naruhito, life changed forever for this former diplomat. But people who knew Princess Masako beforehand may have thought that her life was destined for greatness.		diplomat　外交官 beforehand　以前から destined for ...　…を受ける運命にある
■■ She was born on December 9, 1963, the eldest daughter of Hisashi and Yumiko Owada. Because her father was a diplomat, Masako went to kindergarten in Moscow, elementary school in New York and Tokyo and secondary school in Tokyo and Boston. An outstanding student and multi-linguist ―she speaks German, English and French― she graduated from Harvard magna cum laude. Later she did graduate work at Oxford University, as did her future husband. Attracted to her father's profession, she became a diplomat in April 1987 where she worked until her marriage.		outstanding　優れた linguist　数カ国語に通じた人 magna cum laude　優等で attract to ...　…に魅了される
■■■ When she first got married, the media believed this "career woman" would modernize the role of the Crown Princess. As a princess though, she has maintained tradition in a changing society. At her first solo press conference in 1996, she said, "At times I experience hardship trying to find the proper point of balance between traditional things and my own personality." Many people in Japan realize how difficult it must be adapting to life in the limelight and that is one reason she is so admired.		modernize　…を現代風にする maintain　…を維持する at times　ときどき proper　適切な adapt to ...　…に順応する in the limelight　脚光を浴びて admire　…を称賛する
■■■■ As wife to the prince, one of her most important roles is associated with the production of a male heir to the royal throne. In 1999, all of Japan rejoiced when it was announced she was pregnant but that unfortunately ended in miscarriage. She became pregnant in 2001 and in December of that year gave birth to a daughter, Princess Aiko. Because Japanese law dictates that royal succession is limited to males, many people are still hoping that the princess can give birth to a boy.		heir　継承者 royal throne　皇位 rejoice　…を喜ぶ pregnant　懐妊している miscarriage　流産 give birth to ...　…を産む dictate　…を定める succession　継承
■■■■■ In December of 2002, she and Prince Naruhito visited New Zealand and Australia. It was the first time the couple was apart from Princess Aiko. Like most tourists to Australia, the couple made a trip to the zoo in Sydneyo and got to hold koalas, wombats and a baby wallaby. The Australian tourism industry hoped the visit would encourage more Japanese to come to Australia. The Prince and Princess also laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and attended a state dinner.		apart from ...　…と離れて encourage　…を促進する wreath　花輪 war memorial　戦没者記念碑 state dinner　公式晩餐会
■■■■■■ Besides her love of languages, Princess Masako enjoys tennis, hiking, skiing and music.

－written by Brock Spore

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