the royal forums

Go Back   The Royal Forums > Other Things Royal > Royal Library





Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-01-2006, 12:12 AM
linda85 linda85 is offline
Aristocracy
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: -, United States
Posts: 158
Default "Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne" by Ben Hills

I saw on another board about a new book that is being published by an author named Ben Hills. It is being published by Random House in AUS. and by Penguin in the US in January.

I went to Amazon.com and you can preorder it if you like. The synopsis sounded interesting.

Linda 85
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-01-2006, 12:14 AM
janos614 janos614 is offline
Aristocracy
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: New York, United States
Posts: 210
Default

Thanks for the info!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-03-2006, 05:25 AM
mandyy's Avatar
mandyy mandyy is offline
Heir Presumptive
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: , Canada
Posts: 2,614
Default

....Ben Hills is an investigative journalist who became fascinated with Japan's princess. He's married to a Japanese woman, himself and has lived and worked in Japan. His biography of the princess is called Princess Masako, Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne..... Princess Masako bucked this tradition by having a very successful career before she met the prince. "It was widely expected that she would become the first woman to ever head a government department in Japan," Ben explains. "She was the son her father never had... He desperately wanted her to achieve some of the things a son would have done... In a lot of ways she was brought up as a boy instead of a girl."........
http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/con...4.htm?brisbane
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-09-2006, 05:08 AM
mandyy's Avatar
mandyy mandyy is offline
Heir Presumptive
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: , Canada
Posts: 2,614
Default

PRINCESS MASAKO
Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne

http://kirkusreviews.com/kirkusrevie...03287562&imw=Y
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-21-2007, 04:59 PM
mandyy's Avatar
mandyy mandyy is offline
Heir Presumptive
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: , Canada
Posts: 2,614
Default

Depressed Japanese princess a prisoner of palace, says book
Japanese Crown Princess Masako. For the past three years the health problems of Princess Masako, wife of Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, have kept her out of the public eye while making her a subject of fascination. In an unauthorised biography on the woman sometimes compared to Britain's Princess Diana, Australian investigative journalist Ben Hills says Masako is receiving the best of medical care -- but predicts she will continue to suffer..........
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/166845.asp
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-21-2007, 05:25 PM
Elspeth's Avatar
Elspeth Elspeth is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ***, United Kingdom
Posts: 14,721
Default

It was a fairly depressing read - he seems very sure that the only thing that'll help her get better is a major rethink of her role, and he seems very sure that won't happen.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-01-2007, 08:23 AM
Lady Jennifer's Avatar
Lady Jennifer Lady Jennifer is offline
Super Moderator
Newsletter Editor
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Denver, United States
Posts: 7,110
Default

There is a review of the book located here. And if you live in the US & want to buy it from Barnes & Noble you can. Its $20.76- $18.68 if you are a member. I'm not sure how much it would cost to buy from Amazon.
__________________
TRF Chat Room & Social Groups
Take a peek @ the Royal Forum Rules, and FAQ.
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." - Corita Kent
Live, Highlander. Grow stronger. Fight another day. Highlander: The Series

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-01-2007, 10:49 AM
Jackswife's Avatar
Jackswife Jackswife is offline
Courtier
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 550
Default

While everyone is entitled to his/her opinion I'm not sure I would agree with the Philaldelphia reporter's remark that Masako had the "bad luck" to be noticed by Naruhito at their first meeting. Whatever else has happened in her life I think she will always be the love of his life and she is the mother of a beautiful little girl, so I can't call that "bad" luck. I am soooooooo wanting to read this book!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-01-2007, 12:54 PM
Elspeth's Avatar
Elspeth Elspeth is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ***, United Kingdom
Posts: 14,721
Default

It's $17.13 at amazon.com today, and you can get it a bit cheaper from their Marketplace sellers. I haven't checked eBay or Half.com, but you can sometimes get things cheaper there than Amazon (but sometimes not, at least from reputable sellers - it just depends).
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-01-2007, 03:45 PM
mandyy's Avatar
mandyy mandyy is offline
Heir Presumptive
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: , Canada
Posts: 2,614
Default

image cover of the book from Amazon
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-09-2007, 08:44 PM
tete's Avatar
tete tete is offline
Commoner
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Posts: 50
Default

it is so sad. i read the review and was especially disgusted to hear that if masako were to get a devorce she would have to give up full custody of aiko to the imperial family.
__________________
"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly" - Sam Keen
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-13-2007, 04:31 PM
wlee wlee is offline
Gentry
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 65
Default

A letter from the Imperial Household Agency on "Princess Masako"(Ben Hills)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-14-2007, 10:08 AM
wlee wlee is offline
Gentry
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 65
Default

From CNN: Australian to Japan: I'm not sorry

Australian to Japan: I'm not sorry - CNN.com
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-14-2007, 02:05 PM
scooter scooter is offline
Courtier
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: katonah, United States
Posts: 596
Default

I notice in the letter they did not say that there were any factual inacuracies regarding how Masako was portrayed...only worried about their leprosy work being not agknowleged.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-14-2007, 02:46 PM
Tzu An Tzu An is offline
Aristocracy
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: , United States
Posts: 152
Default

I think the main concern is how the Emperor and Empress are portrayed and made to look as if they are not really all that involved in the affairs of their country.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 02-14-2007, 04:55 PM
Skydragon's Avatar
Skydragon Skydragon is offline
Majesty
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: England and Scotland, United Kingdom
Posts: 8,710
Default

What a pity that, rather than point out the charitable work the Emperor and Empress do, they didn't put up one word about Princess Masako or her awful treatment. I feel so sorry for this young woman!
__________________
The Past is the Past
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes - Who will watch the watchers
?
They started with me, it moved to you, who next?
Everything you wish for me, I send it back to thee times three
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-14-2007, 05:55 PM
Jackswife's Avatar
Jackswife Jackswife is offline
Courtier
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 550
Unhappy

Yes, it *does* seem that all the concern is toward the Emperor and Empress, and not so much to Masako. I'm not disrespecting the Imperial couple but the book is a biography of Masako, and though I haven't had a chance yet to read it it sounds as if the writer did a lot of research. I really feel for Masako.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-14-2007, 09:02 PM
Madame Royale's Avatar
Madame Royale Madame Royale is offline
Royal Highness
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,969
Default

I bought the book in early December of last year and to be honest, I thought it was a well documented look at the life of Masako thus far.

I agree with Hills and don't believe he has anything to apologise for. His humour in the book is actually quite witty and he has clearly done his research to the best he can, or was permitted.

Last edited by Madame Royale; 02-15-2007 at 12:11 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 02-15-2007, 12:06 AM
Elspeth's Avatar
Elspeth Elspeth is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ***, United Kingdom
Posts: 14,721
Default

The subject matter of that letter speaks volumes about the way the IHA feel about the members of the imperial family. I wonder if the author of the letter knows how comprehensively he managed to inadvertently support everything the book was complaining about.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 02-16-2007, 12:41 AM
Lady Jennifer's Avatar
Lady Jennifer Lady Jennifer is offline
Super Moderator
Newsletter Editor
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Denver, United States
Posts: 7,110
Default

Does anyone