Miki Irie (born 13 August 1944, Age: 79 years old), also known as Vera, is a former model, actress, and fashion designer who is best known as the wife of the late Seiji Ozawa, one of the most celebrated conductors of the 20th and 21st centuries. She was born on August 13, 1944, in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, to a Japanese father and a Russian mother.
Education
She attended Saint Maur International School, a prestigious Catholic school in Yokohama, where she learned English and French. She started her career as a model in the 1960s, appearing in magazines and commercials. She also acted in a few movies, such as White Morning (1965) and The Face of Another (1966), both directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara.
Miki Irie Wiki/Bio
| Name | Miki Irie |
| Birth name | Vera Ilin Motoki |
| Birth date | August 13, 1944 |
| Birthplace | Yokohama, Japan |
| Height | 5’ 4½” (1.64 m) |
| Spouse | Seiji Ozawa (1968-2024) |
| Children | Seira Ozawa, Yukiyoshi Ozawa |
| Occupation | Model, actress, fashion designer |
| Movies | White Morning, The Face of Another |
| mikiirie | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
How Miki Irie Met Seiji Ozawa
Miki met Seiji Ozawa in 1967 when he was already a rising star in the classical music world. He had won the Besançon International Conductors’ Competition in 1959, studied with Charles Munch, Pierre Monteux, and Herbert von Karajan, and served as the assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. He had also been the music director of the Ravinia Festival, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. He was 32 years old and divorced from his first wife, Kyoko Edo, a pianist.
Miki Irie was 23 years old and working as a model and actress. She was introduced to Seiji Ozawa by a mutual friend, who thought they would make a good match. They hit it off immediately and fell in love. They got married in September 1968, in a private ceremony in Tokyo. They had two children: a daughter, Seira, born in 1970, and a son, Yukiyoshi, born in 1974.
Miki Irie’s Life as Seiji Ozawa’s Wife
Irie gave up her career as a model and actress to support her husband’s musical endeavors. She accompanied him to his concerts and tours around the world and became his confidante and muse. She also designed clothes for children, including her own, and ran a boutique in Tokyo. She was known for her elegant and sophisticated style, as well as her warm and friendly personality.
Miki and Seiji Ozawa had a happy and harmonious marriage, despite the challenges of living in different countries and cultures. They decided to raise their children in Japan so that they could learn about their roots and heritage.
Seiji Ozawa split his time between Boston and Tokyo, as he became the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1973, a position he held for 29 years. He also founded the Saito Kinen Orchestra in 1984, and the Saito Kinen Festival in 1992, in honor of his teacher, Hideo Saito. Miki was involved in both projects, helping with the organization and administration.
Miki Irie and Seiji Ozawa were devoted to each other and their family. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2018 and remained together until Seiji Ozawa died in 2024, at the age of 88. He died of heart failure, after battling esophageal cancer and back problems for years. Irie was by his side, along with their children and grandchildren.
Legacy and Achievements
Irie is not only remembered as the wife of Seiji Ozawa but also as a remarkable woman in her own right. She was a talented and versatile model, actress, and fashion designer, who graced the covers of magazines and the screens of cinemas. She was also a loving and supportive partner, who shared her husband’s passion for music and art.
She was a caring and nurturing mother, who raised her children with respect and affection. She was a generous and gracious hostess, who welcomed guests and friends with hospitality and warmth. She was a loyal and faithful friend, who maintained close relationships with many people from different walks of life.
Miki Irie is also admired for her courage and resilience, as she faced many difficulties and hardships in her life. She endured the loss of her parents, her brother, and her husband. She also suffered from health problems, such as diabetes and kidney failure. She underwent dialysis and a kidney transplant and continued to live with dignity and grace.
Is Miki Irie Alive?
Miki is still alive, as of February 10, 2024. She is 79 years old and lives in Tokyo, Japan. She is surrounded by her family and friends, who love and respect her. She is also revered by her fans and admirers, who appreciate her beauty and talent. She is a living legend, who has left a lasting impression on the world.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Irie’s net worth and income sources are not publicly available, but it is estimated that she has a net worth of between $1 million and $5 million. Her income sources are mainly from her former career as a model and actress, as well as from her fashion design business.
She may also have inherited some of her husband’s wealth, as Seiji Ozawa had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death. Seiji Ozawa earned his fortune from his long and illustrious career as a conductor, working with some of the most prestigious orchestras and opera houses in the world.
Professional Career
Miki started her professional career as a model in the 1960s, appearing in magazines and commercials. She was one of the first Japanese models to have a mixed heritage, as she was a quarter Russian and three-quarters Japanese. She was also fluent in English and French, as she attended Saint Maur International School, a prestigious Catholic school in Yokohama. She was admired for her beauty, charm, and sophistication.
Irie also pursued a career as an actress, starring in a few movies, such as White Morning (1965) and The Face of Another (1966), both directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara. She played the role of a girl with a scar in The Face of Another, a science fiction film based on a novel by Kobo Abe. She received critical acclaim for her performance, as she portrayed the complex emotions of a woman who falls in love with a man who has a disfigured face.
Miki Irie gave up her career as a model and actress after she married Seiji Ozawa in 1968, as she decided to focus on supporting her husband’s musical endeavors and raising their children. However, she did not abandon her passion for fashion, as she became a fashion designer for children’s clothes. She also opened a boutique in Tokyo, where she sold her creations, as well as imported clothes from Europe. She was known for her elegant and original style, as well as her attention to detail and quality.
Kids
Miki and Seiji Ozawa had two children: a daughter, Seira, born in 1970, and a son, Yukiyoshi, born in 1974. Both of them followed their parents’ footsteps and became involved in the entertainment industry.
Seira Ozawa is a stage actress and essayist, who has appeared in various plays and musicals, such as Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, and The Phantom of the Opera. She has also written several books, such as My Father, Seiji Ozawa, and My Mother, Irie, where she shares her personal stories and insights about her parents and their relationship. She is married to the actor Masato Sakai, and they have two sons.
Yukiyoshi Ozawa is an actor, who has starred in several movies and TV shows, such as The Forest, The Sun, and The Emperor in August. He has also performed in theater, such as in the play The King and I, where he played the role of the King of Siam. He is married to the actress Rie Miyazawa, and they have a daughter.
Nationality, Ethnicity, and Religion
Irie’s nationality is Japanese, as she was born and raised in Japan, and holds Japanese citizenship. Her ethnicity is mixed, as she is a quarter Russian and three-quarters Japanese. Her mother was a Russian immigrant, who married her father, a Japanese businessman, after World War II. Her religion is not known, but she attended a Catholic school in Yokohama, where she learned English and French.
Parents and Siblings
Irie’s parents were Kaisaku Irie and Sakura Irie. Her father, Kaisaku, was a Japanese businessman, who worked in the textile industry. He was also a music lover, who played the violin and the piano. Her mother, Sakura, was a Russian immigrant, who came to Japan after World War II.
She was a housewife, who took care of Miki and her brother. Miki Irie had one brother, Kenji, who died in a car accident when he was young. He was also a musician, who played the guitar and the harmonica.
How did Seiji Ozawa Die?
Seiji Ozawa died on February 6, 2024, at the age of 88, at his home in Tokyo. The cause of death was heart failure, according to his management office. He had been suffering from various health problems for years, including esophageal cancer, back surgery, and heart valve disease. He had undergone chemotherapy and surgery and had reduced his public appearances and performances.
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