Crown Prince Naruhito and Family: News & Photos 1 - Page 8

Lyonnaise · #**141** 05-10-2004, 09:41 PM

Polfoto 10-05-2004 Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito speaks with reporters during a news conference held at Togu Palace in Tokyo on Monday May 10, 2004 prior to his visit to three European nations, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. During his stay there, Naruhito will attend the royal weddings of Prince Frederik of Denmark and Prince Felipe of Spain.

Crown Prince

Lyonnaise · #**142** 05-10-2004, 10:14 PM

Masako's 'distress' over restrictions on travel

10 MAY 2004

On the point of departing for a three-nation European tour which will encompass the much-publicised Danish and Spanish royal weddings, Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito has revealed that his wife is "greatly distressed" that she cannot accompany him.

In what amounts to a criticism of the rigorously traditional Imperial Household Agency, which keeps a tight rein on all royal activities, Naruhito said in a press conference on Monday that Crown Princess Masako was "anguished that she was hardly allowed to visit foreign countries although she left her job as a diplomat to join the imperial family and believed it was an important role for imperial family members to promote international friendship."

Masako had a promising career as a diplomat and twice refused Naruhito's proposal because of her fears over what life would be like within the royal family, before finally marrying him in 1992. The couple made their last trip abroad together in December 2002, to Australia and New Zealand. Since then, Masako has admitted suffering "fatigue" and has dropped out of public view.

The prince, who swore to protect her all his life, said at the press conference that, "Masako seems worn out in her efforts to adjust herself to life as a royal over the past 10 years... There was something that amounted to a denial of Masako's former career and personality." Questioned on this, Naruhito cited his own and Masako's distress at "the inability to visit foreign countries."

The crown prince said that his wife, who also suffered enormous stress over the expectation that she should produce a male heir, is gradually rebuilding her confidence, but that it may take "longer than initially expected" for her to return to her official duties. The couple have one daughter, Aiko.

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Having left her job as a diplomat to join the royal family, Masako is "anguished" that she is hardly allowed to visit foreign countries, her husband has revealed
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Masako joins her husband on her last foreign visit, to New Zealand, in December 2002
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It seems that I'm not the only one with the 'Can't go to the royal weddings' blues. :(

**Elspeth** · #**143** 05-11-2004, 12:12 AM

Good for him. I wonder if it'll make any difference, though. The Empress seemed to have been put through the same treatment, with similar results, and it hasn't stopped them pulling the same stunt with the Crown Princess.

Beate · #**144** 05-11-2004, 12:52 AM

I find it admirable that Prince Naruhito spoke up. I must admit that I never realized that it was that bad! :( Changes need to be made and perhaps his interview triggered something! Poor Masako!!

wlee · #**145** 05-12-2004, 03:06 PM

From the Imperial Household Agency,

Press Conference by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince on the Occasion of His Visit to Europe(2004)

http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/press-crow...2004-0510.html

Bubbette · #**146** 05-12-2004, 03:12 PM

Gee, that is pretty revealing for a Japanese monarch!

#**147** 05-12-2004, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bubbette@May 12th, 2004 - 1:12 pm
Gee, that is pretty revealing for a Japanese monarch!

It must be a matter of frustration, too. When Masako was allowed to go and stay at her parents' mountain villa, Naruhito could not even stay with her. He had to stay in a local hotel ...

will someone tell the Imperial Household agency that only males decide the sex of children. It's not Masako's fault that her child is a girl.

I won't be surprised if this marriage ends, and Masako returns to her family. She obviously has had a major nervous breakdown.

Bubbette · #**148** 05-12-2004, 03:41 PM

Why couldn't he stay with her?

xicamaluca · #**149** 05-12-2004, 04:09 PM

Yahoo! News

Japan's crown prince heads for Europe leaving ill princess behind

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito left on a European tour without his ailing wife as the palace acknowledged the princess' poor health might be partly due to the limits of her royal life.

Naruhito left on a 12-day tour of Denmark, Portugal and Spain during which he was scheduled to attend royal weddings in Copenhagen and Madrid.

He said Monday it would be "wrenching" to leave behind his wife, Crown Princess Masako, and their two-year-old daughter Aiko.

Masako, a former diplomat schooled at Oxford and Harvard, has not been seen in public or performed any official duties since December due to what the imperial household said was mental and physical exhaustion.

Meeting with the press ahead of his departure, the 43-year-old crown prince said both he and Masako, 40, were deeply regretful that he had to travel to Europe alone.

"I feel that I am wrenching myself away as I depart," he told reporters at his residence on Monday, suggesting the rarity of opportunities available to the princess to visit other countries was partly to blame for her poor health.

Hideki Hayashida, grand master of the crown prince's household, told a news conference Wednesday he took the complaint seriously.

"We take it gravely as we understand (the couple) has been in extreme anguish," he said. "We wish to make utmost efforts in response."

Masako, fluent in six languages, gave up a promising career on the diplomatic fast track to marry into the world's oldest monarchy in 1993.

The couple have made only five foreign trips since their wedding, with the latest one, to Australia and New Zealand, taking place in December 2002.

About Masako undertaking overseas trips, Hayashida said: "We wish to comply with the wishes of both their Highnesses by taking into account the condition of Masako-sama and doctors' advice."

In Copenhagen, the crown prince will attend the wedding ceremony of Danish Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian fiancee Mary Donaldson on Friday.

He will visit Portugal before moving to Madrid to attend another royal wedding, this time of Spanish Prince Felipe and his fiancee, former journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, on May 22.

xicamaluca · #**150** 05-12-2004, 04:10 PM

Yahoo! News

Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito smiles as he leaves the Togu Palace in Tokyo for a three-nation European tour, leaving behind his wife Masako suffering poor health. He will visit Denmark, Portugal and Spain to attend the wedding ceremony of Danish Crown Prince Frederik and another royal wedding of Spanish Prince Felipe.(AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp...ult-264x384.jpg

#**151** 05-12-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bubbette@May 12th, 2004 - 1:41 pm
Why couldn't he stay with her?

Because duty comes first .... Naruhito was also scheduled to go to Jordan. He is the Crown Prince.

Bubbette · #**152** 05-12-2004, 05:17 PM

No--it said when she was with her parents, he was at a hotel.

Lyonnaise · #**153** 05-13-2004, 02:17 PM

ROSKILDE, DENMARK: Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito © listens to the director of the Danish Museum for Vikingships Tinna Damgaard Soerensen (L) during a visit 13 May 2004, in Rosklide. Naruhito left on a 12-day tour of Denmark, Portugal and Spain during which he was scheduled to attend royal weddings in Copenhagen and Madrid

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xicamaluca · #**154** 05-15-2004, 07:55 PM

Yahoo! News
Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito (L) walks accompanied by dean Fernando Seabra ® during the visit to the University of Coimbra central Portugal May 15, 2004. The Crown Prince is began a five-day official visit to Portugal on Saturday before going to Spain for the royal wedding of Spanish prince Felipe. REUTERS/Marcos Borga

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rid...i/r75517681.jpg

Alexandria · #**155** 05-15-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xicamaluca@May 15th, 2004 - 6:55 pm
Yahoo! News
Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito (L) walks accompanied by dean Fernando Seabra ® during the visit to the University of Coimbra central Portugal May 15, 2004. The Crown Prince is began a five-day official visit to Portugal on Saturday before going to Spain for the royal wedding of Spanish prince Felipe. REUTERS/Marcos Borga

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rid...i/r75517681.jpg

Naruhito is a busy, busy man. Friday was the Danish wedding, he must've left first thing in the morning to be in Portugal then to head to Spain at the end of the week for the Spanish wedding.

Has he got something else scheduled abroad between the Spanish and Jordanian weddings?

Dennism · #**156** 05-15-2004, 08:38 PM

Photos of Crown Prince Naruhito at the royal wedding in Denmark on May 14, 2004

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lynn · #**157** 05-16-2004, 07:22 AM

It's too bad that Crown Princess Masako couldn't make it. I hope she will feel better soon. Her presence was sorely missed...

Bubbette · #**158** 05-16-2004, 12:57 PM

Who the heck did he have to talk to? Same at the Spanish wedding.

Alexandria · #**159** 05-16-2004, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bubbette@May 16th, 2004 - 11:57 am
Who the heck did he have to talk to? Same at the Spanish wedding.

Why wouldn't Naruhito have anyone to talk to at the Danish and the Spanish weddings? Some of the people who atteded the Danish wedding and the upcoming Spanish wedding are his counterparts the world over. They could discuss their future roles, or what everybody else chats about: their families, world news and politics, sports, entertainment, recent trips, etc.

Naruhito not having anything to talk about with any of the other guests is absolutely ridiculous. He may not be very good friends or related to any of them, but that doesn't mean he would be completely isolated at such an occasion. That is like asking what would Farah Diba have to talk about with any of the other guests? Or what would Mary's family have to say with all the royal guests? All equally as ridiculous.

Dennism · #**160** 05-16-2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bubbette@May 16th, 2004 - 11:57 am
Who the heck did he have to talk to? Same at the Spanish wedding.

His walking companion in those photos would make a good conversationalist for starters and she certainly enjoyed her time in Japan when she went there in 2001.