日本德仁天皇和雅子皇后给这个世界上最古老的皇族之一带来了改变。
The two have spoken with foreign visitors in English. They laugh with children and even play with dogs.
两人用英语同外国宾客交谈。他们跟孩子们一起欢笑，甚至跟狗一起玩耍。
They are Japan's first emperor and empress to have earned university degrees. They speak several languages and have years of experience of living overseas. At one time, the future emperor even washed his own clothes.
他们是日本首位获得大学学位的天皇和皇后。他们会说数种语言，并有多年海外生活经历。这位未来的天皇甚至有一次亲自洗衣服。
Six months after starting their official duties, they appear to be making Japan's royal family more international and bringing it closer to the lives of average citizens.
在他们即位6个月之后，他们似乎正在让日本皇室更加国际化，并使之更贴近平民生活。
They have also surprised many Japanese who worried they might have trouble taking the place of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Many were worried about Empress Masako, who has struggled for years with what officials call an "adjustment disorder."
他们也令很多担心他们无法取代明仁天皇以及美智子皇后的日本人感到惊讶。很多人担心雅子皇后，她多年来一直在跟官方所称的“顺应障碍症”作斗争。
"Though the previous emperor and empress were seen as being close to the people, these two seem even closer," said Hideya Kawanishi. She is an assistant history professor at Nagoya University.
河西秀哉表示：“虽然以前的天皇和皇后跟人民很亲近，但是他们两人更为亲近。”河西秀哉是名古屋大学历史学助理教授。
Emperor Naruhito is the first Japanese ruler to be cared for by his mother instead of being raised by nurses and teachers. His parents made efforts to give him a normal childhood, including sending him to school with food for lunch.
德仁天皇是首位由母亲照顾，而非护士和教师抚养成人的日本统治者。他的父母努力给他一个正常的童年，包括送他带着午餐上学。
He earned a degree from Gakushuin University where he studied water systems. He then spent two years at the University of Oxford, which he said were some of the best years of his life. He later married Masako Owada, a diplomat, following objections to his choice from officials.
他在日本学习院大学获得了水系统学位。然后他在牛津大学上了两年学，他说这是他一生中最好的时光。后来，他不顾官员们的反对，与外交官小和田雅子成婚。
The two have one daughter, 17-year-old Aiko who, as a woman, cannot take the Chrysanthemum Throne.
两人生下了一个女儿，即现年17岁的爱子，作为女性她无法继承天皇王位。
The royal couple's overseas experience was evident when they held a dinner for U.S. President Donald Trump soon after they took power. They spoke to Trump and his wife, Melania, in English, only later agreeing to use an interpreter because of official rules.
这对皇室夫妇的海外经历在即位后不久举行晚宴欢迎美国总统川普时得到了显现。他们用英语与川普及其妻子梅拉尼娅交谈，只是后来因为官方规定而同意使用口译员。
The emperor and empress speak English so well, it is clear they have lived internationally, Kawanishi said. The couple seems a world away from the traditional behavior of the past.
河西秀哉表示，天皇和皇后的英语很好，很明显他们在海外生活过。这对夫妇似乎与过去的传统行为相去甚远。
Emperor Naruhito has agreed to have his picture taken with members of the public while traveling overseas. In Japan, he and his wife recently laughed with children and played with dogs during a visit to a dog shelter.
德仁天皇在海外旅行时同意跟公众合影。在日本，他和妻子最近在一次探访犬类收容所时，与孩子们一起大笑，并与狗一起玩耍。
"This is not something you could imagine the previous imperial couple ever doing, at least not so naturally," Kawanishi said.
河西秀哉说：“你无法想象以前的天皇夫妇会这样做，至少不会这么自然。”
Worries have faded
担忧消失
Empress Masako's struggles with her adjustment disorder and official duties. She lived a very private life for the past 10 years, but now she is an empress with a quick smile. The Japanese public seems to have forgotten about her health issues.
雅子皇后苦于应对“顺应障碍症”和公务。过去10年里她过着非常私密的生活，但是现在她是一位笑容灿烂的皇后。日本公众似乎已经忘记了她的健康问题。
"Of course, her health is a mental issue so there are ups and downs, but worries have rather faded," said Hidehiko Kasahara, a professor at Keio University who specializes in royal issues.
日本庆应大学专门研究皇室问题的笠原英彦教授表示：“当然，她是心理问题所以病情才出现反复，但是大家的担忧已经消退了。”
Empress Masako may have more responsibilities, but taking the throne may also give her more freedom because she is now the empress.
雅子皇后可能负有更多责任，但是即位也可能会给她带来更多自由，因为她现在贵为皇后。
"The fact that she can act as she wants means there is less stress. Rather, it's a plus for her recovery," Kasahara said.
笠原英彦表示：“事实上她可以为所欲为，这意味着她的压力减轻了。准确来说，这对她的康复很有帮助。”
For now, she and the emperor appear to be moving slowly as they take on their official duties.
目前而言，她和天皇在履行公职时似乎进展缓慢。
I'm Susan Shand.
我是苏珊·尚德。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)