Crown Princess Masako's adjustment disorder

[Charlotte1]

Originally Posted by Emmily

I appreciate all the posts that have explained so much. Can any of you suggest any books, etc that would be good to read about this monarchy?

A good place to start is the official website of the Imperial Family.

www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html

The website has information on the IHA and how it works as well as the interviews the various members of the Imperial Family give on their birthdays. Also the interviews they give before going on a major overseas trip. It has biographies on the various royals so you get to know who's who.

[MoonlightRhapsody]

This loving couple have such an uphill battle. They've been fighting for their relationship since before they got engaged and it's a terrible thing what happened to Masako. At least it seems like she's getting better and her and her husband's marriage seem to be solid as well.

[fanletizia]

Japan's crown prince wants help for wife

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito called on the palace to do more to help his wife, who has shunned most public events for more than two years due to stress.

"I am very grateful that staffers at Togu (the crown prince's household) and other people concerned have made various efforts and offered cooperation," he told reporters Friday.
"I would like to ask for further understanding and cooperation," said the prince, who took the unprecedented step in 2004 of publicly criticizing palace life as stifling his wife's personality.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060310...BHNlYwNzc3JlbA--

[Smilla]

Yesterday I read in a review that Masako is not liked in Japan on account of her "very strange" personality. She was said to be tactless and selfish, cancelling innumerable engagements, etc. It was also claimed that she had just got a job as a diplomat because her father had connections to the foreign office and did not think her to be suited for such a job himself.
Has anybody ever heard about this?

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Smilla

Yesterday I read in a review that Masako is not liked in Japan on account of her "very strange" personality. She was said to be tactless and selfish, cancelling innumerable engagements, etc. It was also claimed that she had just got a job as a diplomat because her father had connections to the foreign office and did not think her to be suited for such a job himself.
Has anybody ever heard about this?

I gather the press in Japan are doing a hatchet job on her in a lot of ways. The royal correspondents over there are very much constrained by what the IHA wants them to say, so I think it can be safely concluded that all this bad press is coming from the IHA via the royal correspondents in order to further marginalise Masako. Whether they're hoping for a divorce, or for her to collapse under the strain and commit suicide, or for the whole Crown Princely family to give up their royal status isn't clear. But obviously the Akishino family are the favoured ones where the IHA dinosaurs are concerned; the Crown Prince dared to speak out against the treatment his wife had received, and so that whole family is out of favour. No doubt hence the bad press and also no doubt hence the Kiko pregnancy. When that boy is born, the Crown Princely couple will be pretty much irrelevant.

[monica17]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I gather the press in Japan are doing a hatchet job on her in a lot of ways. The royal correspondents over there are very much constrained by what the IHA wants them to say, so I think it can be safely concluded that all this bad press is coming from the IHA via the royal correspondents in order to further marginalise Masako. Whether they're hoping for a divorce, or for her to collapse under the strain and commit suicide, or for the whole Crown Princely family to give up their royal status isn't clear. But obviously the Akishino family are the favoured ones where the IHA dinosaurs are concerned; the Crown Prince dared to speak out against the treatment his wife had received, and so that whole family is out of favour. No doubt hence the bad press and also no doubt hence the Kiko pregnancy. When that boy is born, the Crown Princely couple will be pretty much irrelevant.

I agree. Masako is still widely popular with the people, though, judging from the recent numerous coverages of Masako, Naruhito, and Aiko, especially with Aiko starting school. Perhaps these leaks and bad press are meant to deflect this family's popularity. Too bad if this is true. I would have thought that Naruhito's "outburst" in 2004 is water under the bridge. And after all, whether or not a boy is born to Akishino and Kiko, Naruhito will still be emperor after Akihito. It does send a signal that this fact doesn't matter to the IHA, if it's behind this press attack.

[Emily]

Charlotte - I find your post both interesting and somewhat alarming. Interesting in that this has been a recognized phenomenon but alarming in that, if schools have been established to help returnees, why wasn't Masako's family/the Imperial Family aware of the risks that might be involved for her? It takes time to establish schools so I assume you mean these have existed for at least the past 15 years which would encompass the time prior to Masako even entering the courtship with Naruhito. And you would think going from great personal and intellectual freedom to such an ultra conservative institution as the Imperial Family would set off alarm bells for her parents, at the very least, because they are "out and about" in the world. Was it really duty/sacrifice for the "We" vs. the "I", did she have social ambitions herself (clearly no one is perfect even though I am not into blaming the victim, either), was it truly love for Naruhito -- what was it that really made her get into this? I'd love to know. I have great empathy for this woman, though. I probably said this point too much already but my hope is that this trip will allow her not only freedom and rest, but the chance to connect with some of her western crown princess counterparts. I should think communicating with them would provide a window, however small, through which she can breathe western air, ideas, freedom -- the things she grew up with.

[Jackswife]

Re: the marriage of Naruhito and Masako: IIRC he asked her several times to marry him and she refused. I think he was able to convince her that he would care for her and protect her from the IHA (and even any members of his own family who might overstep and cause problems). Naturally as we've all seen with so many royal and noble couples over the years, ultimately no-one knows what a particular marriage is like except the two people involved. I definitely think they're a love match but as someone said, for Masako it had to be a stunning change from almost unlimited freedom to great restrictions. The whole succession thing can't have made life any easier for her. Naruhito deserves a lot of credit for the way he has stood by his wife. I dearly dearly hope she can recover from her illness and be allowed to pursue a more "modern" role in Japan. I think she could be a lot like Rania of Jordan in the sense of being publically involved in many worthwhile issues, and that would help the whole Japanese royal family. It's great to see them all out together-Aiko is SO CUTE!

[MoonlightRhapsody]

I saw some articles saying that some of the Japanese were upset that Masako went on a private trip overseas and I was really irritated and mad. They need to give her a break! Her sister-in-law is about to give birth to a possible male child that Masako herself was pressured--but was unable--to have. The pressure on her is even worse now. She needs the time and distance away from the situation.

[monica17]

Originally Posted by Moonlightrhapsody

I saw some articles saying that some of the Japanese were upset that Masako went on a private trip overseas and I was really irritated and mad. They need to give her a break! Her sister-in-law is about to give birth to a possible male child that Masako herself was pressured--but was unable--to have. The pressure on her is even worse now. She needs the time and distance away from the situation.

I don't understand why some people got upset that the family took a vacation;the primary purpose was to help Masako recover. Nobody wants a sick Crown Princess. How would she be able to do official duties then, among other things?

I'm very happy that the other royal families got to spend time with them. Hope we can give pictures or articles later on. Thanks for the translation, Mandyy.

[iowabelle]

I never really understood why the IHA thought it would be beneficial to keep Masako so isolated. When they allowed her to travel, she looked happy, and surely it would be beneficial for her to become friendly with the other crown princesses, her "peer group" if you like. (I can understand their reluctance to overburden her with official duties if she isn't up to them.)

[monica17]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

I never really understood why the IHA thought it would be beneficial to keep Masako so isolated. When they allowed her to travel, she looked happy, and surely it would be beneficial for her to become friendly with the other crown princesses, her "peer group" if you like. (I can understand their reluctance to overburden her with official duties if she isn't up to them.)

The IHA wants her to get pregnant that's why she kept her at home in Japan. Although as Elspeth pointed out, how could she get pregnant if her husband is away? Maybe home for fertility treatments?

[USRoyalist]

Goodness! Such venom for the IHA. They're just doing their job, to protect and perpetuate the Imperial family. They're in essence no different from Elizabeth II's Chamberlain's office or even the Executive Office of the President of the US. It's too bad Masako is so stressed, but quite frankly the principal function of a royal wife is to bear heirs, which in Japan's case means boys. That's just the reality of it. She should have known this before she married the prince. I think this is the reason most royal establishments resist marriage to commoners, whether in Japan or Europe. They just don't get it. It's not about appearances and clothes and crowd-waving. It's breeding. In every sense of the word.
It's interesting they took her doctor along. Perhaps there was some hope that a change in scenery could spark a little romance.

[Zonk]

USRoyalist...I am sure Masako prior to her marriage was fully aware of her duties as wife to the Crown Prince of Japan. Providing an male heir the important of all of the tasks. Unfortunately, what your heart wants its not necessarily the same thing as what your body does. Its not a mind thing..she didn't have a male child because she didn't want to fufill her duties.

[soCal girl]

Originally Posted by USRoyalist

Goodness! Such venom for the IHA. They're just doing their job, to protect and perpetuate the Imperial family. They're in essence no different from Elizabeth II's Chamberlain's office or even the Executive Office of the President of the US. It's too bad Masako is so stressed, but quite frankly the principal function of a royal wife is to bear heirs, which in Japan's case means boys. That's just the reality of it. She should have known this before she married the prince. I think this is the reason most royal establishments resist marriage to commoners, whether in Japan or Europe. They just don't get it. It's not about appearances and clothes and crowd-waving. It's breeding. In every sense of the word.
It's interesting they took her doctor along. Perhaps there was some hope that a change in scenery could spark a little romance.

Masako knew the realities. However, she can't determine the sex of her baby. If she could, I'm sure she would gladly give the IHA and the Japanese people a male heir. An aristocratic lady does not guarantee a male heir either. I think the IHA just put too much pressure on the couple and refuse to change with the times. I'm all for traditions but the reality is people need to be a little bit more flexible in this day and age.

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by soCal girl

Masako knew the realities. However, she can't determine the sex of her baby. If she could, I'm sure she would gladly give the IHA and the Japanese people a male heir. An aristocratic lady does not guarantee a male heir either. I think the IHA just put too much pressure on the couple and refuse to change with the times. I'm all for traditions but the reality is people need to be a little bit more flexible in this day and age.

The males determine whether or not the child will be a boy or a girl. Women carry no Y chromosomes, only Xs. Men have an X and a Y. If you get an X from them, it's a girl. If you get a Y, it's a boy.

The only way you can plan on what sex to have is to do some kind of genetic screening to insure the male gives a Y chromosome.

[soCal girl]

Originally Posted by Sister Morphine

The males determine whether or not the child will be a boy or a girl. Women carry no Y chromosomes, only Xs. Men have an X and a Y. If you get an X from them, it's a girl. If you get a Y, it's a boy.

The only way you can plan on what sex to have is to do some kind of genetic screening to insure the male gives a Y chromosome.

I know that the sperm is the one who determines the sex. Either way, Masako or Naruhito as people really have no say over what the sex of the baby is. The sperm does. I just think it's a shame how the IHA put so much pressure on Masako to produce a male heir when in reality, it isn't even her "job" so to speak.

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by soCal girl

I know that the sperm is the one who determines the sex. Either way, Masako or Naruhito as people really have no say over what the sex of the baby is. The sperm does. I just think it's a shame how the IHA put so much pressure on Masako to produce a male heir when in reality, it isn't even her "job" so to speak.

I was agreeing with you. Yes she needed to produce a male heir, but short of using genetic screening of some kind to ensure that it happens, it's a 50/50 crapshoot.

[iowabelle]

Originally Posted by monica17

The IHA wants her to get pregnant that's why she kept her at home in Japan. Although as Elspeth pointed out, how could she get pregnant if her husband is away? Maybe home for fertility treatments?

You don't have to be at home to get pregnant! Keeping the pregnancy is a different matter; if she were to be pregnant again, I can understand why the IHA might want her to stay at home and avoid the risk of travel since she had a miscarriage before.

[monica17]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

You don't have to be at home to get pregnant! Keeping the pregnancy is a different matter; if she were to be pregnant again, I can understand why the IHA might want her to stay at home and avoid the risk of travel since she had a miscarriage before.

You're right, of course. It's just so hard to fathom the IHA's perspective on keeping her home in order to get pregnant. They didn't want Masako to travel until she has done her duty -conceive and give birth to a son.