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.

20 stated that on Dec. 17, 1991, a month after Miyazawa became prime minister, high-ranking ministry officials that included Hisashi Owada, the vice minister, met and discussed Akihito’s ...