Yuko Kishida

Yuko Kishida (岸田 裕子, Kishida Yūko; née Wada) was born on 15 August 1964 in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. She is the eldest daughter of Kunijirō Wada, who owned a real estate company. Kishida attended Hiroshima Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, an educational institution providing integrated secondary education.

After completing her secondary education, she enrolled at Tokyo Women's Christian University (TWCU), where she studied Japanese literature. Following her graduation from TWCU, Kishida joined Mazda in 1987, assuming the role of secretary to the company's vice president, Yoshihiro Wada.

In 1988, she married Fumio Kishida, who would later become the Prime Minister of Japan. The couple has three sons.

On 4 October 2021, Kishida became the First Lady of Japan upon her husband's accession to the office of Prime Minister, following his election victory in the 2021 Liberal Democratic Party leadership race.

In April 2023, Yuko Kishida undertook a notable diplomatic visit to the United States. On 17 April 2023, she traveled solo to the United States at the invitation of First Lady Jill Biden. This visit marked the first occasion of a spouse of a Japanese Prime Minister making a solo diplomatic visit to the United States. During her visit, Kishida participated in a planting of a cherry blossom tree within the grounds of the White House, symbolizing the enduring friendship between Japan and the United States.

Prior to the tree planting ceremony, Jill Biden provided Kishida a tour of the White House, including a brief encounter with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Additionally, Kishida visited Howard University in Washington, D.C., a historically Black university, where she engaged with students studying Japanese language and culture.