"Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne" by Ben Hills (2006)

[linda85]

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

[janos614]

Thanks for the info!

[mandyy]

....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

[mandyy]

PRINCESS MASAKO
Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne
http://kirkusreviews.com/kirkusrevie...03287562&imw=Y

[mandyy]

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

[Elspeth]

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.

[Lady Jennifer]

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.

[Jackswife]

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!

[Elspeth]

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).

[mandyy]

image cover of the book from Amazon

[tete]

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.

[wlee]

A letter from the Imperial Household Agency on "Princess Masako"(Ben Hills)

[wlee]

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

Australian to Japan: I'm not sorry - CNN.com

[scooter]

Originally Posted by wlee

A letter from the Imperial Household Agency on "Princess Masako"(Ben Hills)

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.

[Tzu An]

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.

[Skydragon]

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!

[Jackswife]

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.

[Madame Royale]

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.

[Elspeth]

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.

[Lady Jennifer]

Does anyone know if this book is banned/not allowed in Japan?