Japan’s Crown Princess Masako says she feels “insecure” about becoming empress in April, but will do her best to serve the people of Japan.
Masako Owada will become empress when her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, succeeds his father Emperor Akihito.
Emperor Akihito, 84, is abdicating next year because of his age and health.
The princess, who has suffered from a stress-related disorder for many years, says she is slowly recovering and will try to perform more royal duties.
Princess Masako was educated at Harvard and Oxford, and had a promising career as a diplomat before her marriage in 1993, the BBC’s Asia analyst Michael Bristow reports. Read more