Yōko Miyazawa

Yoiko Miyazawa (born February 18, 1920 – May 4, 2014) was a Japanese English scholar. She was an emeritus professor at Waseda University and a graduate of Tokyo Women’s University. She was the wife of politician Kiichi Miyazawa, and during his tenure in office, she served as the First Lady and engaged in official activities.

According to detailed records regarding her birth and family background, Yoiko Miyazawa was born in Tokyo as the second daughter of Junsei Ijichi, an English scholar. Junsei Ijichi was an emeritus professor at Waseda University.

Her meeting with Kiichi Miyazawa dates back to the summer of 1939. That same year, Kiichi Miyazawa entered Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), and Yoiko entered Tokyo Women’s University. Their encounter was prompted by the "Japan-U.S. Student Conference" held around that time.

She graduated from Tokyo Women’s University with a major in English in 1941 (Showa 16). After graduation, she married Kiichi Miyazawa on November 30, 1943 (Showa 18).

The Miyazawa couple had children, though specific numbers and names are not provided. Kiichi Miyazawa served as Prime Minister from November 5, 1991 (Heisei 3) to August 9, 1993 (Heisei 5), and during that period, Yoiko Miyazawa engaged in public activities as First Lady.

She passed away on May 4, 2014, at the age of 94.