Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, represent a lot of firsts for the nation's next Imperial monarchs: university-educated, multilingual and with years of experience living overseas, during which the monarch-to-be even did his own laundry.

As they prepare to carve out identities as emperor and empress, hopes are high they will make the role both more international and more in touch with the lives of ordinary Japanese.

"I think there's opportunities for this newest generation of Imperial family members to embrace causes that push the envelope a little," said Shihoko Goto, an analyst at the Wilson Center, citing the 55-year-old Crown Princess' experience as a diplomat.