Crown Princess Masako's adjustment disorder

[Mandy]

A year ago, I said on this very forum that I did not trust the IHA to have Masako's best interest at heart. I still don't trust them. I believe they sedated her into a yes-person. The way the IHA scheduled her recovery with apperances here and there sometimes with no pictures smacks of theatrics to mimic relapses and remissions. Masako deserves better.

[Emily]

Mandy - First I want to say, I am not doubting in the least what you write. As you can probably tell from my posts here and in the Princess Kiko forum, I am sad but also appalled by this pregnancy news. I guess I am still trying to understand the extent of the IHA's power, which -- from posts by Warren and Elspeth and now you -- seems to be almost total control over the lives of the Imperial Family. In fact, the Imperial Family is seeming to be little more than puppets whose every movement is controlled by the IHA puppeteers. If this is indeed the case, do you think Naruhito would ever consider abdicating all responsibility and moving elsewhere to preserve the sanity of his wife?

[Mandy]

It all depends on Naruhito's courage because the IHA controls the purse strings and should he abdicate, he and Masako would be left relatively peniless. Who then buys the ticket to freedom? I'm not sure the IHA would let them have Aiko which means neither parent would leave without their child.

[Emily]

Originally Posted by Mandy

It all depends on Naruhito's courage because the IHA controls the purse strings and should he abdicate, he and Masako would be left relatively peniless. Who then buys the ticket to freedom? I'm not sure the IHA would let them have Aiko which means neither parent would leave without their child.

Wow, if I couldn't take my child, I would never leave; I can't imagine they would do any different. I would think that is their right to take her, though. And are their livlihoods completely dependent on the IHA? That is, they have no properties, possessions of their own independent of the IHA? That kind of control is scary..reminds me of feudal relationships. Are there any books in English that you know of that do some sort of expose on the IHA?

[Zonk]

Why couldn't they take Aiko? Its apparent that the IHA doesn't think much of her...and from that I say SHAME ON THEM!

[monica17]

Originally Posted by Zonk1189

Why couldn't they take Aiko? Its apparent that the IHA doesn't think much of her...and from that I say SHAME ON THEM!

I feel the same. It's too awful for words, being shunned and being thought of as not good enough, because you're a girl. Poor Aiko and her cousins.

I imagine that the IHA is composed of very old and very traditional Japanese men. I couldn't understand why it has that much influence on the family's affairs - only because it controls the money? Maybe because it's always been there.... tradition and all? It seems to me that the family can't exist without it, even if they wanted to.

I have Japanese classmates/friends and they are very modern. They love Aiko, and they don't mind having an Empress at all. Now, if only the IHA can grasp that....

[Zonk]

In my experience..I have found that people are sometimes afraid of what they don't know and understand. That's my explanation for the Imperial Agency.

I totally feel for Masako..its so obvious that the agency is out to get her...I mean..think about it....rumours about concubines, and possible divorce and they don't try to shush the rumours. Its disgusting.

[janos614]

Originally Posted by Zonk1189

Why couldn't they take Aiko? Its apparent that the IHA doesn't think much of her...and from that I say SHAME ON THEM!

It would make total sense if Masako couldn't leave with Aiko but Naruhito isn't allowed to, either?? It's not like Aiko's an officially recognized heir in terms of the succession.

Do Naruhito, Masako and Aiko need the permission of the emperor and empress to travel, or that of the IHA? This all seems very backwards, to me.

[mandyy]

Originally Posted by janos614

Do Naruhito, Masako and Aiko need the permission of the emperor and empress to travel, or that of the IHA? This all seems very backwards, to me.

I think the Imperial Household Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are responsible for the planning of foreign visits, ones which might represent the Emperor and Empress abroad. If they do make foreign visits, they need to report to the Emperor and Empress before and after they make the trip (I think this these reports are like a farewell visit or welcoming visit back home, they just speak to both the Emperor and Empress about the trip and might be reminded by their Imperial Highnesses of some important messages to bring to their foreign hosts).

For local vacations at the Imperial Villas, I think the Crown prince and princess can make their own choices, but require the Imperial Household agency to make the necessary plans such as transportation and housing staffs at the villas.

[soCal girl]

I think being controlled by the IHA is like being in prison. You're locked up in a palace and your every move is controlled. Actually it's kind of like the nobility in Versailles with Louis XIV. Masako probably wonders what her life would have been like if she had never joined the Japanese Imperial Family. I know she loves her daughter very much but if she had never married Naruhito, Masako would have a much more free life. A graduate from Harvard, a modern woman with intelligence, she would have gone far. Now she's stuck and can't get out.

[mandyy]

Originally Posted by soCal girl

Masako probably wonders what her life would have been like if she had never joined the Japanese Imperial Family. I know she loves her daughter very much but if she had never married Naruhito, Masako would have a much more free life. A graduate from Harvard, a modern woman with intelligence, she would have gone far. Now she's stuck and can't get out.

I think if she had never married Prince Naruhito, she could've been the Minister of Foreign Affairs by now if she countinued to stay in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by mandyy

I think if she had never married Prince Naruhito, she could've been the Minister of Foreign Affairs by now if she countinued to stay in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

actually, to reject the hand of the crown prince would not have gone down well with the IHA and govt. I don't think she wld hve gone far in her career within the Minsitry - certainly not to the level of Minister. But in other fields, she would have gone far.

I remembered reading in some local papers during the time of their wedding, that she was to a certain degree told that she cldn't reject the marriage proposal for it would reflect bad for her father who was then holding a high post and for herself too. Something to do with 'her duty to her father and country'....i remember how horrible it must be for her to be put in that position.

[purple_platinum]

it's such a shame a woman with so many promising talent seem to go to waste..

don't hate me for saying this (because in actual fact, i love & respect all the crown princesses), Masako actually has the best background (in theory), a harvard graduate and promising diplomat, and etc. If she married one of the european crown princes, i'm sure the future is very much different now. She would be acknowleged as a good assets (probably go on solo trip every now & then like Mathilde & Maxima), and just be a great ambassador to her country (like Victoria, Mary, Mette-Marit, and Letizia)...

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Eliza

I remembered reading in some local papers during the time of their wedding, that she was to a certain degree told that she cldn't reject the marriage proposal for it would reflect bad for her father who was then holding a high post and for herself too. Something to do with 'her duty to her father and country'....i remember how horrible it must be for her to be put in that position.

Yes Eliza, I remember reading this as well. Once she had passed a certain point in her relationship with the Crown Prince there was no turning back. Duty to the nation may have been one element, but the honour of the family and especially her father meant that if she did have doubts, the pressure and expectation could not be resisted.

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by soCal girl

I think being controlled by the IHA is like being in prison. You're locked up in a palace and your every move is controlled. Actually it's kind of like the nobility in Versailles with Louis XIV. Masako probably wonders what her life would have been like if she had never joined the Japanese Imperial Family. I know she loves her daughter very much but if she had never married Naruhito, Masako would have a much more free life. A graduate from Harvard, a modern woman with intelligence, she would have gone far. Now she's stuck and can't get out.

What is their day to day life like? Do they have any privacy as a family, any say in what they eat, wear, do? I know this is a different culture, but it all seems so backward to me. I can't imagine living this way.

[Emily]

It is helpful to me to read all your comments. Not that it makes the situation any better for Masako but to know there people as equally disturbed by this whole situation as I am. I just find it so sad; such a waste of Masako's wonderful talents, as well as, so demeaning to women in general. Aiko's gene pool is fantastic and with such conscientious parents I'm sure she would make a great Empress.

[Charlotte1]

Originally Posted by Mandy

It all depends on Naruhito's courage because the IHA controls the purse strings and should he abdicate, he and Masako would be left relatively peniless. Who then buys the ticket to freedom? I'm not sure the IHA would let them have Aiko which means neither parent would leave without their child.

If Masako and Naruhito left they would be penniless is not correct. While the IHA holds the bulk of the money available to the Imperial family. Members of the Imperial family do have their own private money. A very modest amount when compared with other royal families. When Emperor Hirohito died, he left an estate of several hundred thousand dollars ( small in comparison with European royals) this money was inherited by his surviving children including 2 daughters that had left the Imperial Family through marriage. It was made known that Princess Sayako too will inherit money from her father, the Emperor even though she had left the Imperial Family.
The bulk of the money the IHA has control of, is the money that comes from the government, basically the Japanese taxpayer, and it's a considerable amount. The Japanese Imperial Family is one of the most expensive royal families when you see how much money comes from the government to support them. The IHA is answerable to the Japanese government.
Divorce rumours that are circulating are originating outside of Japan and doing the rounds of western and some Asian media, it's not a concerted effort to discredit Masako. Regardless of whether Kiko has a boy or girl, Naruhito will be Emperor and Masako Empress. Masako knew what she what she was agreeing to by marrying Naruhito. There would be no divorce, as Naruhito genuinely loves his wife and Masako would loose all access to Aiko if she divorced Naruhito. Not because of that "terrible IHA" but that's the way divorce laws work in Japan, even ordinary women who divorce and deemed at fault in the divorce loose access as well as custody of their children.
Duty and honour are important attributes to all royals and particularly the Japanese with their traditions, Naruhito won't leave and when he's Emperor he will be able to instigate changes as his father has also since becoming Emperor.
The succession law can only be changed by the Japanese parliament, the IHA is a bureaucracy but has no elected parliamentarians in it, so has no vote in the law change. There are however some extreme right wing parliamentarians who are totally opposed to female succession and they are the vocal opponents that could have the law thrown out.
The IHA is an enormous bureaucracy of over 7,000 people, each royal house hold is run separately, the Emperor's, the CP, Prince Akishino's and the minor royals. As the majority of Japanese institutions the people at the top are male ( only 9% of leadership and managerial positions in Japan are held by women, in contrast to western countries where depending on the country it ranges from 30-50%) but over the last 10 years well over half the staff that has been employed by the IHA has been women,( previously it had been basically all men) some will rise through the ranks and this will make a change in the way the agency is run.
Kiko has had as much pressure as Masako to have a son, over 3 years ago the now former IHA chief steward said publically that as far as what was best for the Imperial household he would like the CP couple to have a 2nd child and Akishino and Kiko to have a 3rd. In his 2003 and 2004 birthday interview Akishino was asked both times if he and his wife would have a 3rd child.
The set up around the households of the Japanese royals, reflects Japanese values of the collective ( the Imperial family) being more important than the individual ( Masako, Kiko etc) In general Japanese society this comes through that the company is more important than the family. Hence the postwar Japanese ecomomic miracle, Japanese employees working incredibly long hours and the fact that in the Japanese language there is a word for 'death by overwork'.
As far as the IHA not letting them have Aiko if N and M leave, when Charles and Diana divorced QEII had custodial responsiblity for William and Harry and I think she also has for Beatrice and Eugenie. Royal children, especially if they're high up on the succession line belong to the institution of the royal family rather than their parents.

[Warren]

Thank you Charlotte1! :)

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by Emily

It is helpful to me to read all your comments. Not that it makes the situation any better for Masako but to know there people as equally disturbed by this whole situation as I am. I just find it so sad; such a waste of Masako's wonderful talents, as well as, so demeaning to women in general. Aiko's gene pool is fantastic and with such conscientious parents I'm sure she would make a great Empress.

I find it very sad, too, Emily. Again, I know this is a different culture, but shouldn't they be entitled to live their lives with choice and not as puppets that are manipulated?

[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?