CP Naruhito & CP Masako - NEWS

[Bozhidara]

ChiaraC, your stories are very interesting. Please keep them coming 

[ChiaraC]

Thank you very much for your support, Bozhidara!  

Not sure if you are still around, ChiaraC, but I have a question for you  
BTW,   for your most insightful and informative posts

I am here and thank you very much for the compliment!

I had no idea that patriarchy like this is alive and thriving so well in Japan

If you have been informed by my posts that it indeed is, I know that my life has been worth living. Yes, it is shocking indeed, especially as those patriarchal ways are imo closely linked to militarism, racism and an atmosphere that at least in some respects can hardly be called democratic.  

Wot happens if the little boy that CP's brother had to have suddenly dies (no ill will here...) or is somehow is not there to carry on this esteemed patriarchial instiution...wot happens please? will they have to go to a minor line within the family who has a son to take up the chair? or god forbid, make CP's daughter next in line after they discarded her?...

If anything bad should befall Hisahito (or if he should father no sons) that would be the end of the monarchy under the current law that says that only a male heir in the male line can take the throne. There are no junior branches that could take over as their offspring is also female. Take a look at this genealogy table, it will become very clear then:



Of course, they could theoretically change the law (they need a simple majority of votes in the Diet). There is a majority in the country that would favour female ascension and (which is more controversial) succession rights via the female line (that means for the children of princesses and commoners). But the problem is that there is a very vocal powerful minority who will fight to the last for the patrilineal line. They want to reestablish former collateral branches of the imperial family that lost their status in 1947, along with Japan´s aristocrats. This, in turn, is unacceptable to the majority of the people. As a result, nothing happens. If Hisahito had not been born, they´d probably have changed the law (in spite of fierce ultraconservative protests) to let Aiko ascend. But now they will probably wait it out. I do not think it impossible that they will wait so long that it will be too late to save the monarchy.

It is really tragic/annoying/absurd because the present discussion about letting princesses stay in the family after marriage (without succession rights) seems to also get to be blocked by this discord. It is really an urgent matter because if all the young princesses marry out (and most of them are in their twenties so it will probably happen soon), the imperial family is running out of members to a degree that would probably make them unable to attend to all their official duties in the very near future. Still, it seems probable that nothing will be changed when all is said and done, or very little.

Imperial revision draft set for autumn release

The government is poised to draw up a rough draft this autumn for revising the Imperial House Law to allow female members of the Imperial family to retain their Imperial status after marriage, government sources have disclosed. [...] As the pros and cons over the retention of the royal status of female Imperial family members who marry commoners remains a key discussion point, the leadership of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will be crucial to government reform of the system, the sources said. Eight experts on Imperial matters have presented their opinions in four meetings from Feb. 29 to April 23 that were attended by government officials including deputy chief cabinet secretaries Tsuyoshi Saito and Hiroyuki Nagahama. As the government plans to hear the views of "just under 20 experts," it is assumed that hearings are halfway finished. [...] Of the eight experts, six, including journalist Soichiro Tahara, spoke in favor of creating houses for female members of the Imperial family by enabling them to retain their Imperial status after marriage. [...]

During the government's hearings, a number of unforeseen ideas were put forth, officials said. They included a proposal to expand the number of Imperial family members by allowing men of former princely houses, which were abolished after World War II, to be reinstated as family members through adoption procedures. Another idea that drew attention was allowing female Imperial family members to retain the title of "princess" even after leaving the Imperial family due to marriage, so they could remain engaged in the royal family's activities despite losing the formal Imperial family member status, the officials said.

This idea has been supported by proponents and opponents of the creation of houses for female members of the Imperial family, they noted. The possibility of allowing female Imperial family members to hold the title of princess even after their marriage could be a compromise if discussions on the creation of houses for female members remains inconclusive, the officials said. [...]

The government plans to call on a wide range of people to give opinions on a rough draft for the law revision that will be developed in autumn after the hearings with experts have finished. The government will consult the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and major opposition parties on the draft before submitting an Imperial House Law revision bill to an extraordinary Diet session in autumn or to an ordinary sitting of the legislature next year. [...] Noda once said the Imperial House Law revision "should be settled as quickly as possible." But he has not made any public remarks on this issue for many months, creating skepticism among some government officials about whether the issue is a major priority for Noda, the officials said. One factor affecting his decision may be that his tenure as DPJ president expires at the end of September, which officials said will cause added uncertainty about the issue of enabling female Imperial family members to have their own houses. Some members of the government have suggested the prime minister should create a timetable regarding the revision process of the Imperial House Law. [...]

"When considering the near future, the system needs to change. I'm concerned about how discussions will proceed, but all we can do is see how things develop," a senior official of the Imperial Household Agency said. Some experts said the establishment of female branches of the Imperial family will not reduce the burden on the Emperor, as female members cannot conduct duties in place of the Emperor. However, the Imperial Household Agency has a different view. The Imperial House Law stipulates that the Empress and princesses, including not only the Emperor's daughters and granddaughters but also great-granddaughter and others, are temporarily allowed to act on behalf of the Emperor in state matters. During the Emperor's recent stay at a hospital for heart bypass surgery, Crown Prince Naruhito carried out many of the Emperor's duties. Prince Akishino also represented the Emperor. If female members of the Imperial family are allowed to retain their royal status after marriage, they would be able to take on the duties of Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, thereby freeing up their schedules to take over the Emperor's duties.

This would create a relaxed environment for the Emperor to fully recovery.

Yomiuri Shimbun url="http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/...national/20120504dy01.htm"

Incidentally, in this case it is NOT the IHA who are blocking the change. It is the politicians.  

[ChiaraC]

And, the second question I have, is there a possiblity that CP could just resign and live somewhat of a ordinary life with his fragile wife and have a good life with her? Or is this like losing face if he were to do this?

First of all, I would not call Masako fragile. At two years and a half, she was sent to a kindergarten in Moscow (her father was working there at the embassy) and learnt to talk Russian in but three months. Around that time, her twin sisters, Reiko and Setsuko, were born, and from then on, Masako – who was not even three years old – was “the big sister”.





It frequently happened that their parents had to go out in the evening for professional reasons. In these cases, Masako would take care of her little sisters during her parents´ absence. In addition, she was always used to a huge workload. At highschool she was nicknamed „Hardworker Masako“. After passing the notoriously difficult examination for diplomats, she joined the Japanese Foreign Ministry in 1987 and was sent to the University of Oxford as part of the ministry's training program. Because women with her career record were still rare at the time, she was featured in the national media. By her collegues of the diplomatic service (who were hard workers themselves) she was called: “the woman who does not need any sleep”.









The expert who was finally called in after the crown prince´s public call for help said that Masako is mentally very, very strong. Otherwise she would have broken down much earlier. I am not surprised that you would think her fragile because it is this what we are made believe so nobody would criticize the system. But, in my opinion, it is just that: propaganda.

The crown prince would indeed lose face big time if he were to renounce his claim to the throne. But I do not think that this would necessarily prevent him from doing what he thinks is right. But what is imo often overlooked is that he thinks that he has a mission. It does make a difference who is Japan´s emperor. Pretty much alone among public institutions, the imperial family has performed flawlessly since the disaster of 3/11. And what is more, they really care. The emperor has made a speech on occasion of the Fukushima anniversary – and he was censored. This may be shocking but it also shows that what he said is highly relevant.

Japan in Uproar Over Censorship of Emperor's Anti-Nuclear Speech
Why did Japanese TV channels cut Emperor Akihito's address on the one-year anniversary of the Fukushima crisis?

There is a particularly sensitive accusation reverberating through online discussion boards and social media in Japan: that Emperor Akihito's speech on the one year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami was censored on TV for his comments about the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. [...] Unlike Prime Minister Noda, who never mentioned the nuclear crisis in his speech on the anniversary, the Emperor addressed it directly.

As this earthquake and tsunami caused the nuclear power plant accident, those living in areas designated as the danger zone lost their homes and livelihoods and had to leave the places they used to live. In order for them to live there again safely, we have to overcome the problem of radioactive contamination, which is a formidable task.

While this statement may seem more obvious than radical to outsiders, underneath the Imperial-grade Japanese understatement were two ideas that have become quietly explosive. First, he seemed to suggest that the nuclear crisis is not over, a "formidable task" yet to be overcome. This noticeably contradicts the government's official stance that Fukushima has achieved a cold shutdown and, for all practical purposes, the crisis is over. Second, it implies that it is not yet safe for people to return to areas stricken with high levels of radiation, at least not before the "formidable task" is "overcome." This, again, contradicts the government's position that it is now safe for people to return to almost all areas and that neither Tokyo Electric Power Company nor the national government are obliged to assist in long term evacuations. [...]

So many Japanese were shocked when TV media began cutting out the emperor's dramatic statement. Live daytime broadcasts of the event contained the whole speech and newspapers printed it in its entirety. But, by that evening, all of the major news programs aired edited versions of the speech without his nuclear comments, which also went unmentioned and undiscussed on the heavily watches news shows. The vast majority of Japanese, who don't watch TV news during the day, missed the comments entirely. Blogs and chat-rooms quickly filled with angry accusations that TV networks were censoring an important communication by the Emperor to his people at a time when his guidance is most sought. [...] "It's so disrespectful for the media to cut the most important part of His Majesty's speech, especially as he delivered it under such physical strain." [...]

By March 20, nine days after the emperor's speech, outraged Japanese held a demonstration in front of NHK, the State sponsored TV network, protesting the apparent censorship.

In fairness, news programs can't please everyone with their edits, and it would be unfair to accuse censorship at every disappointing broadcast decision. Still, it's hard to imagine why the TV networks would neither air nor even mention the emperor's obviously weighty opinion. Many skeptics in Japan suspect that the country's enormous nuclear energy industry, which is famous for its influence over Japan's politics and which has seen its business come to a near-standstill over public fears, may have played a role. After all, Tokyo Electric is one of Japanese TV's largest sources of revenue, and is tightly linked to the Japanese government, which sponsors some media here.

The Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.co...ti-nuclear-speech/255025/

By his press conference in May 2004 at which he protested against the treatment of his wife, the crown prince has shown that he is capable of speaking up if he thinks it necessary for his people. Besides, he and his wife represent a liberal monarchy that the whole world can be comfortable with. That is very important considering that Japan´s emperor once was the main symbol of the nationalist and militarist ideology that led the nation into World War II. More than that, some nationalist die-hards would still want him to symbolize this spirit (widely the same people, incidentally, who insist on the preservation of the male line). One of the main reasons of the marriage of the crown prince and princess was that they felt that they had “a mission together”. A Japanese author who has written a book about Princess Masako says that "the couple get on well, and the princess feels strongly about her husband and the royal institution. They simply want to show (the public) that they are working hard to do what they think is right.“ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20090519i1.html

[ChiaraC]

And, and,...do you think this royal family will continue or do you think it will be abolished in the future as japanese society changes?

I do not think that the imperial family will be abolished in the near future. Although the majority of Japanese do not seem to be very interested in them, there is but a very small minority who actually want to get rid of them. The performance of the family after the Fukushima disaster has certainly served to heighten their popularity. The point is imo rather if they won´t be abolished by accident, so to speak, as necessary reforms do not take place. If the law is not amended and the princesses have to leave the family upon marriage, Hisahito will be obliged to produce not only the requisite male heir (which can be bad enough as we have seen) but enough children (preferably male ones) to shoulder the imperial work for another generation. If his sisters and cousins are commoners this also means that nobody except his wife could represent him in state matters if he should fall ill, if even with just a flu, as long as his children are still minor.

Frankly, I do not think it impossible that Hisahito may at one point decide to leave because it is simply too much for just one person. He will be under huge pressure to marry early, but, honestly, which girl in her right mind would marry him with these prospects? Everybody knows what has happened to his aunt and his grandmother, and it can only get worse. “Those who are late will be punished by life itself“, USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev once said. This could well happen to Japan´s monarchy if they keep on putting off reform.

[ChiaraC]

i wonder if she is allowed any friends other than the ones IHA pick for her

You are right.   When Michiko Shoda (now the empress) got to know her future husband, she said about the imperial family: “I feel really sorry for them. They are so confined. I wish they could get around to parties more and meet people who are not Gakushuin.” (Gakushuin is the school for children of the former aristocracy and very rich people where Aiko was bullied.) Prince Naruhito said in 2009 that he and his wife felt a strong necessity to provide their daughter “with so-called social experiences outside the Akasaka Estate and school” and that they “would appreciate it” if more privacy could be allowed to them. They sent Aiko at age four to the “National Children’s Castle”, an institution offering group activities for children, in order to bring her into contact with other children. But I think that is about all they were allowed to do.

[ChiaraC]

Aiko is lovely, and you can tell her father adores her despite the fact she wasn't the boy they needed.

Yes, he adores her. 



And she adores him, too. 











The crown prince is an enthusiastic father. Shortly after Aiko’s birth, he expressed his wish “to be actively involved in bringing up our child”, which was, as one court journalist cautiously put it, “a new style, heretofore not the traditional practice in the Imperial Family”. The prince thoroughly enjoyed giving his baby daughter a bath, taking her for walks and feeding her, commenting that “the help of fathers in raising children wherever possible not only lightens the burden on mothers, but it is also a very good way for fathers to strengthen their relation with their children”. In August 2002, the world saw for the very first time in history a Japanese crown prince carrying his child on his back in public when the family was hiking through the highland marsh of Nasu, renowned for its alpine flora.

[Miss Waynfleet]

Empress Michiko and Aiko



Naruhito as toddler





With Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands





She reminds me of Diana - not of the history, because of the charisma they have.

I can just say excellent ChiaraC!

[Amina]

Thanks for all the pix everyone.  So good to see Masako as a teenager etc.  She is very beautiful.  Also Empress Michiko as a young woman.

I feel that the Japanese royal family will end in a few decades.  They have a long history of producing girls and the future emperor may not likely get a boy by his future wife, unless of course they use IVF. 

Maybe they should let it die out.  IHA are a nasty bunch, who would want to have to deal with them on a day to day basis?

Chiara C - your comments on the Politicians blocking the change in the succession law is telling.  Maybe they want the monarchy to die out? 

Anyway Team Masako.

[DowntownTO]

The princesses are lovely young women. What a tragedy that their family and their country don't fully appreciate them.

[BessieWallis Warfield]

Well, I don't feel the slightest amount of sympathy for the plight of a group or structure that is in this predicament because it deems females valueless.  I consider it karma. 

Hisahito could grow up to be gay, could be infertile, or could say, "screw this."  There will be a lot of pressure on this kid.  Surely there will come a point where this very vocal minority will die out.  Does anyone think that people born after, say 1970 would really think this way regarding male succession only?  I would think that Hisahito would ascend the throne in about 50 years.  How is Japanese society trending?  What girl born in the 21st Century in their right mind would marry him?  A Japanese Kate Middleton?

As I recall, before Hisahito was conceived, there were some calls, from this very vocal and very conservative minority to bring back concubines!   
From what I read, most in Japanese government who would not go for that - did not want the rest of the modern world to think Japan was that backwards.  Any truth to that?

[esther angeline]

  Miss Waynfleet for the photos!

[ChiaraC]

She reminds me of Diana - not of the history, because of the charisma they have.

I can just say excellent ChiaraC!

Thank you! 
I did not know that one. 


I always like to see pics of Masako´s few trips abroad.

She reminds me of Diana - not of the history, because of the charisma they have.

That is certainly true. Japanese royals are usually a somewhat esoteric hobby (I know that from my own experience  ). But even people who would not know the name of her father-in-law are interested in Masako´s fate. There is something about her that appeals to people, and in that she is definitely similar to the late Princess of Wales. Besides, Masako´s entering the family was as much of a chance for the Japanese monarchy to “update itself” as Diana´s wedding was for the British monarchy. (The difference being that the British royals, after some hesitation, made use of that chance while the Japanese did not.) Having said that, I have to confess that I am the exception. I am aware of the “Diana-phenomenon”, but I am not overly fond of her myself. While I certainly think that it was a grave sin to let a 19-year-old who was obviously too young and too naïve to understand what would be expected of her, become princess (in particular as the reason for that was probably that they wanted her, in the first place, to produce an heir), there were, for example, some things that Diana said during the Panorama interview that I found plain nasty and very inconsiderate towards her children. 

[ChiaraC]

Chiara C - your comments on the Politicians blocking the change in the succession law is telling.  Maybe they want the monarchy to die out?  

If they do, they do not say so. In the Yomiuri article quoted above, one government official in charge of the matter said, commenting on the controversial viewpoints, „We believe this reflected [the opponents´] strong desire for the Imperial Household to continue and a strong sense of urgency that something must be done to ensure this occurs.“ When Japanese officials comment anything, you admittedly usually need a translation...

So I think what he meant was the following: initially, the government wanted to comply with the IHA´s request and let the princesses stay in the family. To accommodate ultraconservatives and to avoid predictable political trouble, they promised to let the succession issue out of that (although it definitely should also get to be addressed, for practical reasons). In turn, they expected that ultraconservatives would consent to the establishment of female branches. When it became clear that the ultraconservatives were still not satisfied, the government tried to appease them by proposing to not give royal status to the children of princesses, but to allow only the princesses themselves to retain it. But on the expert hearing with proponents of ultraconservative views that took place a bit later, it turned out that they still, rather unexpectedly and in spite of the government´s numerous concessions, insisted on opposing princesses to keep their royal status after marriage.

Ultraconservatives say that it would be the end of the monarchy if the male succession line were given up, and they admittedly fear that female-headed family branches would lead to its being broken at some point in the future. That was probably what the official meant when he talked about “their strong desire for the Imperial Household to continue”. It is ironical that just by insisting on “it´s our way or no way” they may indeed effectively bring about the abolition of the monarchy. I do not believe that this is their intention, though. Imo, they are so absorbed by their idea of how things are and should be that they are unable to see reality. That is maybe tragic. But imo it is even more tragic that people with such a blurred view on real life are even being listened to.  

[BessieWallis Warfield]

I'm not sure that it's a tragedy in any sense of the word to allow this arcane, dysfunctional, demeaning imperial structure to cease to function.  The Lord works in mysterious ways, maybe allowing the ultra conservatives to shoot themselves in the foot by refusing to look at reality is that way. At the end of the day, abolition of Japanese monarchy means one less thing for us to gossip about on message boards, but for the family itself, it might be a release from prison.  It also permits Japanese government to get on with what should be their real business - governing and protecting the people.  I wouldn't want my government officials engaging in this nonsense about concubines and princesses (especially when there are some perfectly good descendants in the family tree, albeit female) when Japan has real economic and environmental problems. Frankly, I'd rather see them work on some earthquake prediction.  When you put it in this perspective, for most thinking people on the planet, and probably most Japanese, this is all utter nonsense. 

[ChiaraC]

The princesses are lovely young women. What a tragedy that their family and their country don't fully appreciate them.

Most definitely.