Miyuki Hatoyama
Encyclopedia
is the wife of former Prime Minister of Japan
Yukio Hatoyama
. Hatoyama, originally an actress by profession, describes herself as "constantly curious" and a "life composer
", who pursues a variety of interests, including a stylist
, interior designer and cookbook
author
.
In an interview
, then Prime Minister-designate Yukio Hatoyama credited Miyuki with his professional success and praised her enthusiasm. Hatoyama indicated that Miyuki would take an unusually prominent role for the wife of a Japanese prime minister during his administration.
. She was raised in the Japanese city of Kobe
.
during the 1960s. She quit the troupe and her stage career when she was in her mid-20s and moved to the United States
.
Hatoyama has authored a number of cookbooks. Among her books authored is Spiritual Food, which focuses on Hawaii
an macrobiotic recipes. She has since published another book titled Very Strange Things I've Encountered. In the book, she claims "While my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus
... It was a very beautiful place, and it was very green." She wrote that her ex-husband told her it was "probably just a dream" but that Yukio would "surely say, 'Oh, that's great."
, in San Francisco, California
, while Yukio was a student at Stanford University
. Miyuki and Yukio married in 1975, after Miyuki divorced her previous husband, a restaurateur. The couple has one son, Kiichiro, who is currently an engineering
researcher studying in Russia
.
s, discussing a range of topics including food
, religion
and politics
. She has listed her interests as picking vegetables, pottery
and creating art from stained glass
. Hatoyama appeared on a Japanese talk show wearing a shirt made from coffee
sacks which she acquired in Hawaii
. In another interview, she claimed that she knew Tom Cruise
in a former incarnation – when he was Japanese – and is now looking forward to making a Hollywood movie with him. "I believe he'd get it if I said to him, 'Long time no see', when we meet." She has also claimed to "eat the sun" every day to gain energy. and that her "soul went to Venus while her "body was asleep".
An avid hallyu fan, Hatoyama has often mentioned her love of Korean culture, especially South Korean drama and cuisine. She has even stated that her youthful appearance can be attributed to watching South Korean drama and claims to eat kimchi
every day with her husband. Some have commented that her enthusiasm for all things Korean has helped improve relations between Japan and South Korea
. When Hatoyama visited the country with her husband for an official state visit in October 2009, she received applause from the crowd as she walked down the street in Seoul
's Insadong
area.
She has served as her husband's chief stylist and image coordinator during his political career and campaign during the 2009 general election
. Hatoyama coordinates what her husband wears for public events and styles his hair.
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Yukio Hatoyama
Yukio Hatoyama
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan....
. Hatoyama, originally an actress by profession, describes herself as "constantly curious" and a "life composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
", who pursues a variety of interests, including a stylist
Stylist
Stylist can refer to:* Hair stylist, a person who cuts and styles hair* Personal stylist, a person concerned with the style of a single individual* Wardrobe stylist, a person who chooses clothing and accessories...
, interior designer and cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
In an interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
, then Prime Minister-designate Yukio Hatoyama credited Miyuki with his professional success and praised her enthusiasm. Hatoyama indicated that Miyuki would take an unusually prominent role for the wife of a Japanese prime minister during his administration.
Early life
Hatoyama was born in Shanghai, China, in 1943 while the city was under Japanese occupation during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was raised in the Japanese city of Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
.
Career
Hatoyama was an actress in the all-female Takarazuka RevueTakarazuka Revue
The Takarazuka Revue is a Japanese all-female musical theater troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Women play all roles in lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals, and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga and Japanese folktales. The troupe takes its name...
during the 1960s. She quit the troupe and her stage career when she was in her mid-20s and moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Hatoyama has authored a number of cookbooks. Among her books authored is Spiritual Food, which focuses on Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an macrobiotic recipes. She has since published another book titled Very Strange Things I've Encountered. In the book, she claims "While my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
... It was a very beautiful place, and it was very green." She wrote that her ex-husband told her it was "probably just a dream" but that Yukio would "surely say, 'Oh, that's great."
Marriage and family
Miyuki met her future husband, Yukio HatoyamaYukio Hatoyama
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan....
, in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, while Yukio was a student at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Miyuki and Yukio married in 1975, after Miyuki divorced her previous husband, a restaurateur. The couple has one son, Kiichiro, who is currently an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
researcher studying in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Personal life
Hatoyama often appears on Japanese talk showTalk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
s, discussing a range of topics including food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. She has listed her interests as picking vegetables, pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and creating art from stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
. Hatoyama appeared on a Japanese talk show wearing a shirt made from coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
sacks which she acquired in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. In another interview, she claimed that she knew Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
in a former incarnation – when he was Japanese – and is now looking forward to making a Hollywood movie with him. "I believe he'd get it if I said to him, 'Long time no see', when we meet." She has also claimed to "eat the sun" every day to gain energy. and that her "soul went to Venus while her "body was asleep".
An avid hallyu fan, Hatoyama has often mentioned her love of Korean culture, especially South Korean drama and cuisine. She has even stated that her youthful appearance can be attributed to watching South Korean drama and claims to eat kimchi
Kimchi
Kimchi , also spelled gimchi, kimchee, or kim chee, is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings. There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with a main vegetable ingredient such as napa cabbage, radish, green onions or cucumber. It is the most common...
every day with her husband. Some have commented that her enthusiasm for all things Korean has helped improve relations between Japan and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. When Hatoyama visited the country with her husband for an official state visit in October 2009, she received applause from the crowd as she walked down the street in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
's Insadong
Insadong
Insadong is a dong, or neighborhood of the Jongno-gu district of the South Korean city of Seoul. The main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a multitude of alleys that lead deeper into the district...
area.
She has served as her husband's chief stylist and image coordinator during his political career and campaign during the 2009 general election
Japanese general election, 2009
A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives of Japan, the lower house of the Diet of Japan....
. Hatoyama coordinates what her husband wears for public events and styles his hair.