Stressed Japanese princess Masako makes rare public appearance in Tokyo
Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who has long kept out of the public eye due to stress, made a rare public appearance in Tokyo to attend an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of UNICEF's Japan office.
She came late to join her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, for the UN event Sunday and gave no speech, an event official said. Naruhito said in a speech that he hoped for peace and stability in the world for the well-being of children.
Masako's public appearance was the first since early January when she waved from the Imperial Palace balcony to thousands of New Year well-wishers.
Royal-watchers believe the pressure to produce a male heir has caused the princess, a Harvard graduate who speaks four languages, to fall ill, in addition to clashes with the tradition-bound Imperial Household Agency.
Masako gave up a promising diplomatic career at the foreign ministry for her 1993 marriage to Naruhito, the eldest son of Emperor Akihito, and the couple has one child, three-year-old Princess Aiko.
Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne is under an unprecedented spotlight due to concerns over the health of Masako and a debate whether the country should change its male-only imperial succession law to let women ascend to the throne.
Since 1965, no boy has been born to the Japanese royal family, the world's oldest monarchy.
Naruhito stunned the nation last May when he declared with rare candor that Masako's career and personality had been "denied" since she married him in 1993.
Polls have indicated most Japanese support having a female monarch amid widespread sympathy for Masako.
I'm happy to see her coming back in public, but I just wondered with the fact that Masako often chooses a dress which is dominant with black/dark colour (since coming back in aprearing in public) then she wants to reflex that her happiness/condition is not completely recover (remembering that in many culture black colour identic with sadness moment). As I remember she was often wearing light colour dress before she gets her illness. May be our Jappanesse felows in this forum can give little explanation about "specific behaviour and black colour meaning" in their culture.
I think that the CP was right to go public with the hassle that his wife has been recieving from palace officials. His sister was wrong to criticise him on this decision, her mother may have suffered in silence regarding her stresses but that doesn't mean that CP Masako has too or her husband.
It's good to see her out and about. I just hope that their marriage is still strong, they must have gone through hell!!! P Aiko should b allowed to become heir to the throne - its the 21st century!!!!
And yes, CP Masako talents and skills should be used more - she's obviously a wonderful role model for women everywhere, not just Japan.
She looks happier...i hope things are improving for her within the palace and she's really on the road to recovery.
It's a real shame that CP Masako isn't allowed to be the person she really is, just from her background you can tell she's a great asset to the family.
Visiting Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (L) shakes hands with Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito prior to their meeting at Togu Palace, in Tokyo, May 11, 2005. Vanhanen arrived on Monday for a five-day visit to Japan and will attend the national day ceremony of the 2005 World Expo Aichi.
Reports: Crown Princess Masako showing signs of recovery from stress-induced disorder
Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who has withdrawn from official palace duties for a year and half because of stress-induced health problems, is making a steady but slow recovery, Japanese media reported Friday.
Masako, a former career diplomat, withdrew from her official palace duties in December 2003 due to bouts of depression and anxiety set off by the pressures of palace life. On Friday, the chamberlain of Togu Palace, where the 41-year-old princess lives with Crown Prince Naruhito, told reporters she is making progress "slowly but steadily," Japanese public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News reported.
"She now seems to regain a positive frame of mind more quickly, and we recognize that her condition has apparently improved," Hideki Hayashida was quoted as saying.
Hayashida added however, that doctors said she should not push too hard, and it may take some time before she can resume her official duties.
Imperial Household Agency officials were not available for comment late Friday. The couple has indicated that enormous pressure to produce a male heir was partially responsible for her condition.
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