A Princess's Distress Pierces Japan's Veil of Secrecy

[cstaylor]

A Princess's Distress Pierces Japan's Veil of Secrecy

When the Imperial Household Agency announced last week that Princess Masako was receiving therapy for depression and anxiety, it was the first time in the long, long history of Japan's monarchy that there was royal recognition of something most take for granted: personal happiness.

[Taro Toporific]

Earlier today I read that she lost her voice in 1992 --she went totally mute from stress for 6 months. Weird.

[Mulboyne]

Earlier today I read that she lost her voice in 1992 --she went totally mute from stress for 6 months. Weird.

I'm not registered for NYT and can't be bothered but if the article is talking about Masako going mute then it, unfortunately, is not so weird. the current Empress, Michiko, also suffered the same fate. Apologies if I've got the wrong end of that stick.
The recent realization in Japan that they are not very popular in China can only add to the political case for allowing succession through the female line. A Japanese Empress would go a long way to drawing a distinction between Japan now and Japan then.

[Steve Bildermann]

Japan's Royal Succession

New York Times: odious registration required which makes you want to join the Us forces in Korea, defect and get married to a hostage from Japan.

Princess Aiko has full rights to the throne.

From the horses mouth so to speak
Beate Sirota Gordon
New York, Aug. 7, 2004
The writer, a civilian aide to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, drafted the women's rights articles of the 1947 Japanese Constitution.

[Mulboyne]

This story was updated a few days ago, presumably after the film of Aiko appeared on TV.

Japan Media Review: Covering Japan's Royals

The Japanese Imperial family is undergoing a quiet crisis. In the short-term it seems likely that the rules will have to be changed to allow Princess Aiko to one day become empress. A long-term problem is that, if not actively disliked, more and more the Imperial family is simply ignored. Some commentators believe that public indifference to the Imperial family is the result of its growing irrelevance to modern Japan. They say it needs to find a new role for itself before the Japanese public loses interest completely.

In other constitutional monarchies one might expect that role to be discussed through the media -- or if the monarchy really is so irrelevant, questions about whether the royals are actually needed at all. But there is precious little sign of that. Instead, reports largely skim the surface of events, refusing to delve into more profound and troublesome issues.

[Captain Japan]

[Taro Toporific]

[cstaylor]

Naruhito should just do what Edward VIII did and abdicate. Let's see how his brother does in the hotseat.

[Mulboyne]

AP via Yahoo: Japanese Princess Recovers From Stress
Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who turned 41 on Thursday, said she is recovering from a psychological disorder brought on by the pressures of royal life, but won't resume her official duties for "some time." Masako has been out of the public view since December 2003, when she withdrew from official duties due to illness. Under pressure, palace officials later announced that the princess had a stress-related disorder and was receiving counseling and medication.
...In a brief statement, Masako said: "I feel my health is getting better gradually." But she added that it would be "some time before I fully resume my official duties." Masako did not have any celebrations planned, the Imperial Household Agency said. The statement was given to the media Wednesday on the condition that it wouldn't be released until early Thursday.
At a news conference Wednesday, Hideki Hayashida, grand master of the crown prince's family, quoted Masako's doctors as saying the princess is "heading toward recovery" but tires easily and doesn't sleep soundly. Still, she was well enough to go for a walk after exercising with 3-year-old Aiko recently, and might even attend some New Year's events, Hayashida said, without elaborating.

[Mulboyne]

AFP via Yahoo: Pained Japanese emperor says he gave stressed princess her freedom
Japanese Emperor Akihito expressed pain and confusion about the controversy over the crown princess, who has withdrawn from palace life due to stress, insisting he had respected the independence of the former career woman. In his most extensive remarks on the saga in which his two sons have disagreed in public, the emperor was lukewarm to the crown prince's call to modernize the role of the world's longest-running monarchy, saying the heir to the throne should explain himself better.
...The emperor, in a written response to reporters' questions ahead of his 71st birthday Thursday, voiced concern that his son's remarks "were taken up by the media as something directed at the empress and myself. Although it was painful to be exposed to such speculation that had no factual basis, I made a decision that as the imperial family we should avoid any vindication with regard to the criticisms that had been directed at us," the emperor said. "I have since listened to the crown prince on several occasions concerning the content of his statement, but there are still some things I have not fully understood yet," he said.
Asked about the crown prince's May statement, Akihito said: "I was very surprised as for me it was also the first time hearing it." "I asked him to give an explanation to the people as he used the word 'developments,' which could have a serious meaning," the emperor said.

[Mulboyne]

Reuters: Japan's stressed princess set for more duties
Japan's ailing crown princess may visit central Japan next month in her second official duty in as many months after over a year of seclusion. Crown Princess Masako, 41, once a cheerful and outgoing career diplomat, spent about 13 months away from official duties because of a stress-related disorder court officials said was caused by the strain of adapting to royal life. The crown princess made a return to official duties on January 2 when she briefly joined Emperor Akihito and other family members on a palace balcony to greet thousands of well-wishers in a traditional New Year rite.
Public broadcaster NHK said on Friday she was likely to perform another official duty next month with a two-day trip from February 26 with her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, to the central Japanese city of Nagano to see the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The two are planning to attend an opening ceremony and also to watch a floor hockey match during their visit, NHK said, adding that the couple want to take along their only child, 3-year-old Princess Aiko.
...An Imperial Household Agency spokesman said he could not confirm the NHK report...While the crown princess is showing signs of improvement there are still ups and downs depending on the day, he said. "If you ask whether there is an outlook for around when there may be a full recovery, we have not heard about that yet," the spokesman said. It is said that she sometimes goes through difficult periods after appearing in public, perhaps as a result of making such efforts," he added.

[Mulboyne]

Reuters: Prince Apologizes for Remarks That Rattled Japan
Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito has apologized for his swipe at efforts to force his wife to conform to the conservative ways of one of the world's oldest monarchies, remarks that led to speculation of a rift in the royal family. Crown Princess Masako, a once-vibrant former diplomat who studied at Harvard, has only recently begun to be seen in public after being unable to perform her official duties for more than a year because of psychological problems caused by stress.
"I made the remarks out of hope that people would be made aware of Masako's situation," Naruhito, wearing a dark brown suit, told a news conference held ahead of his 45th birthday on Wednesday. "Nonetheless, I feel sorry for causing trouble for both the emperor and the empress over the remarks," said the relaxed and smiling crown prince. "I have also caused concern among the people as well."