Princess Kiko is Pregnant for the 3rd time - Page 24

Laviollette · #**461** 09-05-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandria

...It made me think that this little boy will only be a show piece for the imperial family and that he could grow up to be just as miserable and sad and depressed as Masako is now. What kind of a life is that for a child?

Ultimately I feel bad for everyone involved because as the article clearly illustrates, there aren't any good or easy options. But really, I feel bad for Masako because she could've done some amazing things and we could easily be writing about the great work she is doing like the kind of praise we grant Maxima for her work with microcredit, and instead, we are talking about how gilded her life has become.

Wouldn't the new baby of Kiko and Akishino, if it turns out to be a boy, be raised like CP Naruhito was raised? He turned out just fine. I hardly think this child will have a horrible life as the future emperor of Japan. He will have two loving parents who are already raising two amazing daughters.

Emily · #**462** 09-05-2006, 09:53 AM

I would like to think the little child will not succumb to depression like Masako and Michiko. It seems their depressions (although their circumstances were somewhat different) stemmed ultimately from marrying into the rigid system. I think if you are raised in it, it would be easier.

I completely agree with Alexandria's last statement that I feel badly for Masako also. She is such a talented woman and I do believe she is capable of really amazing things -- I am still holding out hope some kind of solution will be involved. Contrary to what has been written about her relationship with the Emperor and Empress, there are certainly indications that they are sensitive to her situation. That makes me think they will work toward her mental health recovery as they are able.

Laviollette · #**463** 09-05-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emily

...I completely agree with Alexandria's last statement that I feel badly for Masako also. She is such a talented woman and I do believe she is capable of really amazing things -- I am still holding out hope some kind of solution will be involved. Contrary to what has been written about her relationship with the Emperor and Empress, there are certainly indications that they are sensitive to her situation. That makes me think they will work toward her mental health recovery as they are able.

About Masako: She whines too much in my opinion. The fact is she willingly married into a very conservative monarchy. Her #1 duty as CPss was to bear heirs. It was not to be an ambassador and travel around the world. Now many CP's do this but as CP Mary revealed before she married CP Frederik, her first priority was to give birth to an heir. Her role as CP would develop over time but the main purpose of monarchy is continuity. It is all about the heir. Maybe that doesn't sound romantic but there it is.

Alexandria · #**464** 09-05-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Wouldn't the new baby of Kiko and Akishino, if it turns out to be a boy, be raised like CP Naruhito was raised? He turned out just fine. I hardly think this child will have a horrible life as the future emperor of Japan. He will have two loving parents who are already raising two amazing daughters.

Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, I think this child won't be raised in the same manner that his uncle Naruhito was raised.

There is at present time, just one day before his arrival into the world, tremendous pressure on the outcome of his sex. As some of the articles I've read have implied, he has the whole imperial family's future on his little shoulders.

And unlike Naruhito, there is seemingly no spare on the horizon, and as such, from what I understand about the IHA, they will be more fiercely protective of this little boy than ever.

On his parents, I have no doubts about their love for this child and their parenting skills. They have indeed raised two wonderful daughters, but with a son who would one day become Emperor, I think the dynamics will change for his immediate family and for his extended family of his grandparents, uncle Naruhito, aunt Masako and cousin Aiko.

Laviollette · #**465** 09-05-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandria

Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, I think this child won't be raised in the same manner that his uncle Naruhito was raised.

There is at present time, just one day before his arrival into the world, tremendous pressure on the outcome of his sex. As some of the articles I've read have implied, he has the whole imperial family's future on his little shoulders.

And unlike Naruhito, there is seemingly no spare on the horizon, and as such, from what I understand about the IHA, they will be more fiercely protective of this little boy than ever.

On his parents, I have no doubts about their love for this child and their parenting skills. They have indeed raised two wonderful daughters, but with a son who would one day become Emperor, I think the dynamics will change for his immediate family and for his extended family of his grandparents, uncle Naruhito, aunt Masako and cousin Aiko.

Wouldn't the same pressure apply if it were Naruhito and Masako having a male heir, if that's what this child will be? Imo, the objection to this situation by many is that it is Akishino and Kiko who might be the parents of the heir and not the CP couple.

**Zonk** · #**466** 09-05-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

About Masako: She whines too much in my opinion. The fact is she willingly married into a very conservative monarchy. Her #1 duty as CPss was to bear heirs. It was not to be an ambassador and travel around the world. Now many CP's do this but as CP Mary revealed before she married CP Frederik, her first priority was to give birth to an heir. Her role as CP would develop over time but the main purpose of monarchy is continuity. It is all about the heir. Maybe that doesn't sound romantic but there it is.

Masako whines too much...wow...thats a little harsh..but its your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it.

Yes, you are correct...her position (archaic as it may sound) is to provide male heris. Although man (I am speaking in the general sense) would like to control everything...we do not. It rests with a higher power. Although I am sure the pressure of IHA is not making it easier. I wonder how we would all react to the pressure of having a male child. We (again speaking in the general sense as human beings) are not trained circus animals.

Alexandria · #**467** 09-05-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Wouldn't the same pressure apply if it were Naruhito and Masako having a male heir, if that's what this child will be? Imo, the objection to this situation by many is that it is Akishino and Kiko who might be the parents of the heir and not the CP couple.

I have never said that I have objections to Akishino and Kiko being parents of the future Emperor. Please don't put words in my mouth.

I have acknowledged in my previous post that I think they are very good parents to their daughters and that they have done a good job with their daughters as they would with this third child, boy or girl.

If Aiko had been a boy or if after Aiko Naruhito and Masako had had a son, he would've been under similiar pressure and scrutiny as his father while he was growing up, I agree.

But in 2006, after the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are unable to have a son after several miscarraiges and with Masko suffering from a stress-related disorder and out of commission, and with the current Emperor having three granddaughters—none of whom could succeed to the throne, and all the speculation about how this baby was conceived, I think that the media attention will be greater on this child if it is a boy and that his life will be under the thumb more than his uncle before him because he will be the only heir to the throne. This child, if it is a boy, is the last hope for an heir after his uncle, unless the Japanese government enacts policies that would allow women to succeed to the throne.

KathyMoore · #**468** 09-05-2006, 10:42 AM

A few quick questions:

(0) is there any official confirmation that she's only having one baby and not twins?

(1) If it turns out to be a boy, is he guaranteed to become the next-next emperor

(2) if he does become the emperor in the future, what will be the royal status/title of his parents?

(3) the IHA should arrange to have him get married at 18 and have lots of offsprings as early as possible

**Her_Majesty** · #**469** 09-05-2006, 11:36 AM

I heard in TV that the Baby will come in a few hours.

Does anyone know more?

Laviollette · #**470** 09-05-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zonk1189

Masako whines too much...wow...thats a little harsh..but its your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it.

Yes, you are correct...her position (archaic as it may sound) is to provide male heris. Although man (I am speaking in the general sense) would like to control everything...we do not. It rests with a higher power. Although I am sure the pressure of IHA is not making it easier. I wonder how we would all react to the pressure of having a male child. We (again speaking in the general sense as human beings) are not trained circus animals.

If Kiko has a male child then it will be over for Masako. The pressure is off so why is everyone so hostile? You're right. She and Naruhito had no control over which sex their child was born as and that's why Akishino and Kiko gave it another go; to see if they could have a male child. What's the problem? Wouldn't this make Masako's life easier or would she simply find something else to whine about?

**Zonk** · #**471** 09-05-2006, 11:56 AM

Do you honestly think the Masako's life is going to get easier? While I am sure she wishes for a healthy baby (be it boy or girl)..I think Masako's life will remain the same if not get worse. She might constantly have the birth of this innocent child thrown in her face....prime evidence of her failure to do her duty (as you so nicely pointed out).

**Elspeth** · #**472** 09-05-2006, 12:01 PM

[quote]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyMoore

A few quick questions:

(0) is there any official confirmation that she's only having one baby and not twins?

Not that I know of. If it was an IVF pregnancy, multiple births are possible, but nothing's been said so far.

Quote:

(1) If it turns out to be a boy, is he guaranteed to become the next-next emperor

If Naruhito has a son, he would precede this one. I think if it's a boy, the legislation to allow females to inherit will be buried, so in the absence of any further children, he would become emperor after his uncle and father.

Quote:

(2) if he does become the emperor in the future, what will be the royal status/title of his parents?

Their title won't change, but their status will probably be much improved. I think we might well see some significant sidelining of the Naruhitos and a much higher profile for the Akishinos in the future.

Quote:

(3) the IHA should arrange to have him get married at 18 and have lots of offsprings as early as possible

Well, I'm sure there'll be pressure of that sort put on him if he really does turn out to be the only male of this generation and they don't change the succession laws. Or maybe they'll just revive the concubine tradition or something.

Laviollette · #**473** 09-05-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zonk1189

Do you honestly think the Masako's life is going to get easier? While I am sure she wishes for a healthy baby (be it boy or girl)..I think Masako's life will remain the same if not get worse. She might constantly have the birth of this innocent child thrown in her face....prime evidence of her failure to do her duty (as you so nicely pointed out).

If things get worse for CP Masako it's because she has already burned her bridges with the Imperial Family with her whining. Princess Kiko hadn't given birth to a boy either but yet she is close the the Emperor and Emperess. Why? Maybe she's just a nicer person. Maybe she is just trying to fulfill her duty. Even if she has a girl, Kiko will be appreciated for trying.

**Elspeth** · #**474** 09-05-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

About Masako: She whines too much in my opinion. The fact is she willingly married into a very conservative monarchy. Her #1 duty as CPss was to bear heirs. It was not to be an ambassador and travel around the world. Now many CP's do this but as CP Mary revealed before she married CP Frederik, her first priority was to give birth to an heir. Her role as CP would develop over time but the main purpose of monarchy is continuity. It is all about the heir. Maybe that doesn't sound romantic but there it is.

By all accounts, she didn't do it willingly, she married into the family reluctantly after being put under pressure from her family and the royal family, who were getting concerned about Naruhito's single state and his insistence that he wouldn't marry anyone else. Unfortunately, stress can be quite a good contraceptive, and nobody seemed to go out of their way to reduce the stress she was feeling. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if her life had been made a little easier early on, perhaps she wouldn't have had so much trouble producing an heir.

**Zonk** · #**475** 09-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspeth

By all accounts, she didn't do it willingly, she married into the family reluctantly after being put under pressure from her family and the royal family, who were getting concerned about Naruhito's single state and his insistence that he wouldn't marry anyone else. Unfortunately, stress can be quite a good contraceptive, and nobody seemed to go out of their way to reduce the stress she was feeling. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but if her life had been made a little easier early on, perhaps she wouldn't have had so much trouble producing an heir.

I know this thread is about Kiko being pregnant...but Elspeth you hit the nail on the head!

Masako didn't want to marry Naruhito in the first place. Not because she didn't love him but because she did know what family she was marrying into. But she believed her husband, and her in-laws as well. They knew he wasn't going to marry anyone else. As far as I am concerned the emperor and the empress (especially after the treatment she received) have failed as well.....there is enough blame to go around IMO.

**Elspeth** · #**476** 09-05-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Wouldn't the same pressure apply if it were Naruhito and Masako having a male heir, if that's what this child will be? Imo, the objection to this situation by many is that it is Akishino and Kiko who might be the parents of the heir and not the CP couple.

It isn't just that it's Akishino and Kiko in particular; it's that there's a lot of political and social issues as well. The conservatives in the IHA and other part of the government are fiercely resistant to changes in the inheritance laws and are wanting things to stay more traditional as part of a wider move to redefine Japan's role in Asia. It looks as though this pregnancy is part of the whole conservative thing rather than being a happy accident, which would normally be the case for a 40-something mother whose youngest child is approaching her teens.

The other issue is that things were so bad for Masako that Naruhito felt he had to speak out in public to defend her, Akishino then turned round and criticised him in public, and now we have this pregnancy. It does have some overtones of a political power play, not just a decision to have another child because they happen to want another child.

**Elspeth** · #**477** 09-05-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laviollette

If Kiko has a male child then it will be over for Masako. The pressure is off so why is everyone so hostile? You're right. She and Naruhito had no control over which sex their child was born as and that's why Akishino and Kiko gave it another go; to see if they could have a male child. What's the problem? Wouldn't this make Masako's life easier or would she simply find something else to whine about?

She's not whining, she's ill. Please don't tell me you don't know the difference.

Are you aware of the hostility that's been whipped up against her in Japan? Bloggers and websites and articles all over the place suggesting or demanding that she commit suicide or that Naruhito divorce her or step down as crown prince, and saying that Aiko is retarded and that Masako is insane? It's all very well to say "she should just ignor