The Imperial Household Agency is not hundreds of years old. In 1947 the independent Imperial Household Ministry was abolished and replaced by the
Imperial Household Agency. It is a government agency tasked to support the Emperor and the Imperial Family. Positions within the agency are not hereditary. It has little autonomy and is answerable directly to the Japanese Cabinet:
As a result of the Central Government Reform which took effect on 6 January 2001 the Imperial Household Agency has been placed under the Cabinet Office. The Agency is headed by the Grand Steward and he is assisted by the Vice-Grand Steward. The main organization of the Agency comprises the Grand Steward's Secretariat, Board of the Chamberlains, Crown Prince's Household, Board of the Ceremonies, Archives and Mausolea Department, Maintenance and Works Department and Kyoto Office.
If anyone has control over the Imperial Family it is the Prime Minister, not the Grand Steward.
The book by Ben Hills is heavy on opinion and rumour, and light on objectivity and facts. I'm afraid, SElisabeth, that you have not provided one iota of evidence to back up your melodramatic observations. Strip away some of the emotive, heart wrenching language and you might get a little closer to the truth.
Finally, Princess Akishino does not have to do a thing to get "that crown on her son's head"; it will be his in due course because that is the law. What some may call talking the talk can just as easily be called doing her duty. It is not Princess Akishino’s fault that her husband’s sister-in-law is unwell.