Princess Masako - "She's Useless"

9 December 2010

Princess Masako – “She’s Useless”

Crown Princess Masako of Japan turns 47 on 9 December. It’d be nice to be able to say that she’s celebrating her 47th birthday, but these days she doesn’t seem to have a lot to celebrate. A statement issued by palace doctors to mark the Princess’s birthday said that she was slowly recovering from the stress-induced illness that’s plagued her since 2002, identified by palace spokesmen as adjustment disorder, but that her physical and mental condition is still unstable. The palace has been saying the same thing for years – that she’s slowly recovering from a condition they identify as adjustment disorder, a condition that by definition is acute rather than chronic, not lasting for more than six months. Whatever she’s suffering from, it pretty clearly isn’t adjustment disorder.

The tragedy of Princess Masako’s condition is that it was so predictable. She’s the second commoner to marry an heir to the Japanese throne, the first being her mother-in-law, Empress Michiko, a businessman’s daughter who met then Crown Prince Akihito at a tennis party. Michiko was not accepted by her mother-in-law Empress Nagako, a descendant of the imperial family, or by the officials of the Imperial Household Agency, the civil service department that runs the monarchy. Her treatment at the hands of these people led to several episodes of nervous breakdown, including one widely reported episode in 1993 where she spent half a year unable to speak.

Princess Masako, the eldest daughter of a government official, was set to follow her father in a career in the diplomatic service when she met Crown Prince Naruhito at a reception and he decided he wanted to marry her. She refused several proposals of marriage out of concern that she might be unable to handle the regimented and circumscribed life as a member of the royal family. Prince Naruhito persisted, having decided that Masako was the only woman for him, and in early 1993 their engagement was announced. It was reported that Empress Michiko tried to reassure Masako about joining the imperial family by offering her support and protection, and Naruhito himself undertook to protect her from any possible hardships (by which he meant the dead hand of the Imperial Household Agency).

Prince Naruhito, who had spent two years studying in Oxford in the mid-1980s, appreciated the independence and outspokenness of British women, in contrast to the submissiveness required of Japanese women; perhaps he saw a similar quality in Masako, who had lived in Europe as a child and had also done postgraduate work at Oxford. He also apparently saw an opportunity for a new-style royal family, where Masako could use her experience with the diplomatic service in her role as Crown Princess rather than just fading into the background like previous royal wives. Unfortunately the Imperial Household Agency had other ideas.

Other crown princesses and queens have freedoms that Japanese royals can only dream of. Princess Mary of Denmark has her own charities, Princess Maxima is well known for her support of microfinance, the Duchess of Cornwall has carved out a niche supporting the armed forces, Queens Rania and Noor are prominent humanitarian activists. They go on domestic and international trips with or without their husbands. They are members of families with significant wealth independent of the government, and while they can’t just go off doing anything that takes their fancy, they do have the opportunity to identify and support causes of interest to them. In contrast, the Japanese royal ladies are meant to be submissive, decorative, and silent. If it’s true that Naruhito hoped that Masako could use her diplomacy skills in service of her country, he was being optimistic to the point of fantasy. She was barely allowed to go on foreign trips at all; she had to stay home and concentrate on having babies (how that was supposed to happen while her husband was away on foreign trips is anyone’s guess). When she used her linguistic skills to speak to dinner guests in English and Russian, an IHA official was quoted as accusing her of showing off: “The royal family are not ambassadors. She doesn’t need to be able to speak English, she has interpreters for that. Her job is to smile.”

The most important task for the new Crown Princess (apart from smiling) was to produce a son, and in this she failed miserably. The Japanese succession laws allow only males to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne, and the imperial family was very short of males. The situation wasn’t helped by the 1947 Constitution drawn up by the Allied occupation forces which abolished the peerage, thereby reducing the potential pool of heirs. Nor was it helped by the provision of the Imperial Household Law that princesses marrying commoners had to leave the imperial family and become commoners themselves, with their children barred from the succession. By the time Masako joined the imperial family, it consisted of Emperor Akihito and his immediate family, including two granddaughters but no grandsons; his brother Prince Hitachi and his wife, who are childless; and his uncle Prince Mikasa, youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, who has granddaughters but no grandsons. Emperor Hirohito’s other two brothers, Prince Chichibu and Prince Takamatsu, were also childless. The last male born in the imperial family was Naruhito’s younger brother Fumihito (Prince Akishino), born in 1965.

Within a year of Masako’s marriage, the press was hounding her to start producing babies, but years went by and she remained childless. Then in December 1999 she suffered a miscarriage. Finally on 1 December 2001, the 37-year-old princess gave birth to a daughter, Princess Aiko; it’s been reported that IVF was used. Still no sons in that generation, still no potential heir. The press and the IHA went right back to hounding Masako to produce more children so she could have a son. Unsurprisingly, instead of having another child she had a nervous collapse, from which she still has not fully recovered.

When it became clear that there would be no sons in the Crown Prince’s family, there were moves in the government to amend the Imperial Household Law to allow females to succeed to the throne. Conservatives were appalled (Prince Tomohito of Mikasa even suggested that the Crown Prince should take a concubine in order to have a son), but the public was generally supportive. However, increasingly vicious attacks on Masako started to appear in online chatrooms and as unattributed quotes in newspaper articles: she was lazy, she wasn’t really ill but couldn’t be bothered to do her royal duties, she had caused a rift between her husband and his parents, she was, in a word, useless. And perhaps she should do everyone a favour and either divorce her husband or, preferably, commit suicide. Her biographer, Ben Hills, believes that these attacks originated at the IHA.

In 2004 Prince Naruhito took the unprecedented step of speaking out in public in support of his wife and against the forces who, as he said, “denied Princess Masako’s career…as well as her personality.” Although this appeal increased public support for Masako, the other members of the imperial family, particularly Naruhito’s younger brother Prince Akishino, let it be known that they didn’t appreciate his efforts, and he was forced into a public apology. The IHA made it clear that they weren’t about to change their ways just because two successive crown princesses had been driven to nervous collapse by the lives they were being forced to lead.

In the meantime the government was going ahead with its suggestion to amend the succession laws to allow Aiko to succeed to the throne. Then in February 2006 came the announcement that Prince Akishino’s wife Kiko was pregnant for the first time in over a decade. It was rumoured that IVF had been used, and it was a foregone conclusion that the child would be a boy. Sure enough, on 6 September Prince Hisahito of Akishino was born, and public support for the changes to the succession law evaporated. Since the birth of the prince, the Akishino family has figured more prominently in Japanese public life, as the branch of the family with the future heir, and the role of the Crown Prince has been somewhat downplayed. It’s been reported in western newspapers that Prince and Princess Akishino are undertaking trips and duties that would normally be the province of the heir. But of course, with the birth of Prince Hisahito, the more progressive Crown Prince can be safely ignored by the IHA nabobs, knowing that his more conservative younger brother is waiting in the wings with his son and that Pricess Aiko is nothing more than a footnote in the Japanese royal family.

And now, four years later, nothing has changed. Princess Masako is still “recovering slowly” from a condition that isn’t supposed to last more than a few months. Despite the attempt by her husband to plead for a change in the environment that reduced her to this state, nothing has been done and nothing will be done. Princess Aiko has had her own problems, being bullied at school and taking a rather long time to return to full-time attendance. Prince Akishino, once the overshadowed younger son, is front and centre in the imperial family. Prince Naruhito’s dreams of a more open and relevant imperial family, where the women are encouraged to do more than smile and bear sons, appear to be shattered. And Princess Masako, the reluctant princess, has been broken by the system just as she obviously feared would happen when she refused Prince Naruhito’s proposals of marriage for so long. Little point in saying “happy birthday.”

Be Sociable, Share!

By Yvonne | Published in: Japan | Tags: Adjustment disorder, Crown Princess Masako, Princess Aiko, Princess Masako, Succession

40 Comments

Aimee - 10 December 2010

Might be better to say “My condolences.”
Nikki - 10 December 2010

This is one of the saddest things I have read in a long time. How unfortunate that the IHA has control over the Imperial Family to this extent.
arwin kim - 10 December 2010

She is my idol. Her life inspires me to study and work harder. She is amazing women. I have no words to say anymore.
Yvonne - 10 December 2010

She really does have a lot of skills and talents, and it’s such a shame the Establishment has gone out of its way to suppress all her qualities. I wonder if Prince Hisahito will ever find someone to marry him after what’s happened to Princess Masako and Empress Michiko.

I can only imagine how Prince Naruhito feels – he vowed to protect her, and he wanted to marry her so badly, and now she’s in this state and he was unable to really help her.
Ari - 1 January 2011

For the sake of the Crown Princely couples marriage, as well as their relationship with their daughter, I hope that they will fight to the bitter end in what is clearly a silent but continuouslly raging battle.

However, when the end is in sight, I also hope that, whatever the outcome, they recognise when their time has come. In other words, should they lose the war, which given the curent situation seems increasingly likey, I hope they bow out gracefully.
P.P. Collins - 5 January 2011

Will you also write a similar eulogy for Prince Daniel of Sweden, who after marrying Princess Victoria, has given up his career and his last name, and is subordinate to his wife and her family?

Will you also write about what an extreme tragedy it was that Prince Philip had to give up his naval career when his wife became queen?

Also could you provide data on the number of Japanese citizens who suffer from various forms of mental distress? I wonder if the Princess is the only one. I rather doubt it.
Yvonne - 8 January 2011

I’ll be writing a similar blog about Prince Daniel if his experiences in the royal family drive him to a nervous breakdown. Although even then it won’t be a similar case to Masako, who is the second commoner to marry the heir to the Japanese throne and suffer a nervous collapse as a result. There seems to be something systemic going on with the Japanese royal experience that isn’t happening in either Sweden or Britain.
Amy - 15 January 2011

Fight, Princess, fight! What the establishment has done and plan to do with you is baloney. It’s all an illusion. You must regain your sanity and carry on.
michaella - 22 February 2011

After all that, majority of Japanese still support female monarchy. I am against the decision IHA and Princess Kiko made to create male heir; this indeed could solve current issue of not having male heir, create more problems in future of Japanese Royal Family, as change of the law could potentially give solutions in future if the same problem occur to them.
Hope Crown Princess will be in good health, and wish all the happiness of her family.
maddie - 25 February 2011

I don’t understand people. What is the point of any royal family these days- especially one left in medieval times. Why doesn’t Masako take her daughter and live in Europe. The poor daughter has no chance of a proper life either.
michaella - 28 February 2011

>maddie
Princess Aiko is born in very different circumstance from most of us. What is proper life anyway? Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako are amazing parents, like most of us have loving family who loves you. You shouldn’t trust all the lies Japanese media tells you, especially Asahi group, who did awful propaganda to provoke people towards Asian Invasion and supported mass distraction during Second World War.
Apologise for my poor writing, its hard describe, but this is not about one woman couldn’t have a son, and then having depression, but it’s also about politics.
kim - 28 April 2011

Hasn’t anyone taken Biology? It’s the male genes who determines the sex of a child..boy or girl. What era are we in…back to King Henry VIII just to have a son? Girls rock!!!!!!!
Queen of Pop - 2 May 2011

I’ve always thought of Masako as the female Diana, what with her education and all. This IHA is clipping her wings
Yvonne - 3 May 2011

I agree – I think the IHA has managed to turn an asset into a liability with its treatment of Masako. I hope they’ll learn a few lessons from this, but since it seems to be a repeat of the torment that Empress Michiko went through, apparently these people don’t learn.
Izzy - 8 May 2011

I’m sorry for Princess Masako and hope she makes a full recovery from her illness. The Japanese royal family seem to live very secluded lives and such seclusion may not be healthy, especially for those who marry into the family. It must be strange to go from a life that involves normal contact with lots of people to a life lived mostly behind palace walls. I think that alone might cause depression in a vulnerable person.

As for the IHA, it’s a pity they don’t seem to see beyond the issue of a princess having a son. In these modern times it’s possible surely to respect tradition while at the same time recognise that having a male heir is not the be all and end all. Why should Princess Masako be made to feel a failure simply because her only child is a girl? As Queen of Pop (above) says, the sex of a child is determined by the father so to try to make Masako feel she has ‘failed’ to produce a son is completely unfair. What should be celebrated is the fact that she and her husband have a daughter who, if the law were changed, could one day sit on the throne.

All royal families, if the wish to survive in this modern world, need to make changes that show they’re aware of how people think nowadays, not stick so rigidly to tradition that they’re seen as an anachronism and eventually get swept away as of no relevance.
Phily - 27 May 2011

mmm so the real queen and king is the tema IHA guys ? WHO THE HELL IHA ARE? descents from kings? In the name of what power had to lead the royal duties in Japan? so the prince even the king and queen had to do the IHA guys say? foot the IHA team and lead your country for the good of your people… and leave the princess Masako alone ..
Yvonne - 8 June 2011

The IHA are the civil servants who deal with the royal family. They’re the ones who hold the royal purse strings; unlike a lot of the European monarchies, the Japanese royals aren’t all that wealthy, so they depend on the government for their income to a larger extent than most other monarchies. The IHA also tend to be very conservative and appear to be trying to impose those values on the royals.
Rannie - 11 August 2011

Such a shame she is considered to be a baby machine.
Lisa - 30 October 2011

I’m not a Japanese, so I don’t know what the important of Emperor. But I don’t like human suffering. I think both Naruhito and Masako should be glad on Hisahito’s birth. It makes Aiko to be a commoner, and Aiko can be a diplomat like her mother in the future.
Forget about the past, raise your child with best love and care. Naruhito can focus on water reserved in the world with real project. Masako can focus on Aiko’s education and environment.
Moe - 9 November 2011

It’s not fair. We all have our own dignity. The IHA shouldn’t do like this. Be strong,Princess. I always admire you.
krus - 21 November 2011

But, Princess Kiko is also a commoner. She doesn’t seem to experience hardship by marrying Prince Akishino. Princess Masako is not suitable for the job of crown princesses and Prince Naruhito should have just marred someone else or sacrificed his status and become a commoner to make his wife happy.
May - 23 November 2011

It’s admirable that the Prince has such love for his wife to speak up for her. They’re both educated & talented individuals and shld just quit the monarchy and live a commoner life away from Japan. They cld definitely make a decent living giving speeches or teaching. The IHA is a bunch of old farts with their shitheads stuck in their assholes from the 1940′s. Good luck bringing Japan into the 21st century with your antiquated brain cells!
Yvonne - 23 November 2011

I’m not sure the Crown Prince and his family would be able to leave even if they wanted to – the Japanese royal family doesn’t have much independent wealth, unlike the Europeans, and I doubt the government will make it easy for him to go off and be a loose cannon.

Regarding Kiko, the situations aren’t all that similar, since she met her prince at university and knew from an early age that she was going to marry him, whereas Masako was already a successful businesswoman on a demanding career track when the Crown Prince proposed. I think Kiko would have had more realistic expectations of her life, being a fairly traditional wife and mother; the Crown Prince, on the other hand, seemed to want to introduce some fairly radical reforms and was seeing Masako as helpful in that respect because of her training and work experience. Instead of which, the lack of a male heir means that Naruhito will never be more than a placeholder and any reforms that he mananges to introduce will be temporary.

Even though the gender of a child is determined by the father, not the mother, people seem to be blaming Masako for only having a daughter, meaning that the succession will pass through a different line.
Lisa - 24 November 2011

I am concerned about Princess Aiko. Initially I thought the birth of Prince Hisahito, will make Aiko not becoming public talks anymore. Apparently not. (cause probably she’s the most beautiful little princess of the Japan Empire)
About her mother, Princess Masako. Although her career and social life does not go well, I think she has a happy marriage. Despite Naruhito ‘forced’ her to enter the palace, I think he is a good husband,and they have a daughter they loved. Academically she’s smart, but incharacter she is so sensitive.
I hope Masako will more show her tenderness by: following the activities of the palace (because her husband had been prepared from little boy to be an emperor); preparing Aiko about life outside the palace; loving Hisahito like her own son, because he was the only male successor in their extended family; giving more attention to the Emperor and his wife like she loves her biological parents; and expressing what’s in her mind in writing (which content has nothing to do with the royal family).

Do not regret your decision to get married. You are not ruin your life. You have a husband who loves you, and sweet child.

There was no word too late, Princess Masako.
angelsoul_16 - 2 December 2011

It is sad that Crown Princess Masako had to undergo this kind of torment. I’m also sad for Crown Prince Naruhito because he only wants reform in the system of the imperial family and yet there are still people in their government that won’t allow changes for their selfish reasons.

I thought this kind of scenarios only happen on television dramas and yet here is one real example. I understand that Japan should maintain a strong line of successors to preserve their imperial family but they should also embrace reform.

Modern princesses don’t just smile, wave and bear an heir to the throne. Modern princesses should be helping in creating a better world for the future generations. They should speak out to be able to reach out to other people who are also capable in creating a better future for the less fortunate.

Still, I wish there would be a miracle for Crown Princess Masako to bear a male heir so that her critics would all shut up.
Lisa - 11 December 2011

Happy birthday to Princess Aiko and Princess Masako.

Sometimes when I look at the official photo of the imperial family, Princess Aiko often plays with building blocks. It’s very interesting. Throughout my knowledge, there’s no member of the imperial family who majored in architecture or design while studying at university.

There’s no need to arrange a married princess remained as a member of the royal family, because it will waste the government budget. Do not be afraid that Japanese Empire would be destroyed, Hisahito can use IVF to maintain a heir. Some ceremonial should be trimmed, so not much royal members will be involved. The lesson for Kunaicho in the future to perform psychological tests on the bride candidates of Hisahito, so she will be ready to enter the palace.

I agree Akishino’s opinion for retirement age of Emperor. Akishino’s family is more ready for the duty of empire. Although Naruhito is prepared to become emperor, but his daughter and his wife did not seem comfortable with the job. I think Naruhito can take off his throne due to age restrictions. In the future, Naruhito could be a lecturer at the university and take part in nature conservation, Masako will more focus on Aiko. It is more elegant and makes every one happier.

I hope that Empress Michiko was not disappointed with Masako. Masako loves you, your husband, and your son. Masako might not disregard you, moreover the image of Aiko -her daughter- is remarkable resemble of you, The Empress Michiko.
(I am so sorry for my poor English)
Maki - 16 December 2011

People need to leave HRH Masako alone, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cause of her miscarriage was because she was being hounded to have a son!
I think the IHA have no business in affairs such as child bearing and HRH Naruhito asking his people to bother his wife!
The Imperial Family maybe a symbol of Japan but they are a family and they don’t need some group telling them how to act. Their job should only be to ensure the HAPPINESS of the Imperial Family, not their masters!
Joanna Backman - 2 February 2012

Wow, calling this poor woman “useless” is rather extreme, isn’t it? it’s not her fault she hasn’t been able to have another child, i’m sure it wasn’t for lack of effort. many women do not have more than one child, it was unfortunate for her, considering the Japanese policies, that the child was a daughter, but i am sure she is greatly loved. God bless this woman, I am sure she will need it.
Yvonne - 2 February 2012

You’d think it was extreme, but if you’ve been following the Japanese royal family you’d know that it’s one of the milder comments that the posse of Masako haters has come up with. I think the most memorable one I saw on one or other of these anti-Masako sites was that this worthless waste of space should commit suicide and take her autistic excuse of a daughter with her so that the Crown Prince wouldn’t have to spend any more of his life having to look at them. The hatred against this woman makes the anti-Mary, anti-Charlene, and anti-Camilla tirades seem pretty minor by comparison.

Part of the problem is that this is a facet of a larger struggle going on between conservatives and modernisers for the future of Japan. The conservatives seem to want to go back to the glory days of militarism and relative isolation, and they don’t like the current Emperor’s accessibility and his acknowledgment that recent Japanese history has had some pretty unpardonable aspects; they see the Crown Prince as cut from similar cloth to his father, and they don’t like the Crown Princess because of her education, career, and especially her western upbringing. So the venomous tirades directed against Masako aren’t just personal, they’re attacking her as a symbol of a future they find deeply uncongenial and threatening.

Erm, by the way, I’m not the one calling her useless – hence the quotation marks in the article title. I’m just amazed that she’s still managing to function at all, considering everything she’s been through.
stacy100 - 5 March 2012

It is so sad,what Princess Masako’s life has become. The Japanese people should be ashamed of what has been done to this smart and happy young women.
Lisa - 4 April 2012

Sometimes Japanese’ magazines or tabloid gossip about the crown princely family too cruel. They are gossiping about divorce possibility or throne passed out of heir apparent. They also often gossip that Aiko has mentally retarded.

Until now the crown princess was not able to perform her duties. There is a concern when Naruhito becomes an Emperor, no Empress who accompanied him. I hope Emperor Akihito still holds the throne until Aiko reaches 17 years old. Aiko is the one who can make Masako trying to do the best. At least at that age, Aiko has tall and mature-mind enough so that she can accompany her parents to be Emperor and Empress.

I do not think the divorce can solve problem. However the crown princely couple love each other, and they certainly do not want Aiko to be a victim. About retirement, Naruhito could be abdicated until Hisahito has at least 20 years old.
heina - 15 April 2012

I just read the book of Princess Masako, and I learnt that it is worst becoming a royal member in Japan than being a prisoner in the most developed countries. In referring to the control of the royal family by the IHA, eg. Naruhito and Masako can’t see the Emperor and Empress whenever they want BUT to book and appointment through the IHA. I strongly believe, human rights is not practising or taken away through that system, a son and his wife to see his parents through the permission of some elected people (IHA)?? Let alone Masako’s own family she can’t see them as usual. Princess Masako was punished from talking too much than her husband once in a public event by not allowing her to speak again at public. I believe the system which the royal family of Japan runs should be responsible for the breakdown (sickness) of the healthy, happy and pride Masako grew up with. And as for Masako doesn’t have a son. . Princess, stand tall and accept what God gave you, the beautiful Princess Aiko. She was meant for you, your ” gateway out” back to the freedom that you used to have. And I am sure you wouldn’t want the little love of your life to suffer under the controlling of the IHA. I wish you Princess Masako and your Prince Naruhito and your Sweety Aiko the most happiness and good health for rest of your life. ” life is to enjoy”
icha - 29 May 2012

I love to see Princess Masako who has improved her health. Lately, she began to accompany Crown Prince Naruhito in some activities. Masako looks more in shape,and Naruhito seems happy accompanied by his wife.
Good growth of Princess Aiko, and Aiko’s comfort with her friends at school make her mother’s relief, and Masako started her paying attention and her time for Crown Prince.
For Masako, the birth of Hisahito provides tranquility for the existence of the Empire of Japan. Suppose she had a son, she will worry about the future of her son.

I do not understand, why the Japanese medias (tabloids or magazines) always pursue Aiko. They should have pay more attention to the growth of Hisahito, the heir of Chrysanthemum throne. I feel sorry for Aiko surrounded by many of bodyguards. How can Aiko deal with life outside the palace one day, if she was always treated as such.
bren - 20 June 2012

masako should never have been forced to marry someone she did not love.
bkh - 27 July 2012

sad to read this.. what amazes me that the emperor are korean decent and no one talks about it openly.. the emperor should grant masako divorce and she should move out of Japan. their abusive attitude by the people makes me very sad!!
Eric - 22 August 2012

Though strongly influenced by globalization, the Japanese have been able, more than other nations, to preserve their dedication to the welfare of the group – be it family, community or nation – rather than the individual. Sadly, Princess Masako seems more interested in indulging herself than in accepting her role as a key member of a highly traditional and ancient royal family. She knew what she was getting into; she should have had the commitment to fulfill the tasks required of her. She has caused the Japanese nation a great deal of grief because she has put herself ahead of her responsibilities. Masako’s model should be Queen Elizabeth, a monarch who has subordinated everything to her duty as her nation’s sovereign.
Atashi - 12 September 2012

The British crown also has its version of the IHA, popularly called “grey men.” But Princess Masako cannot be compared to the Queen. Elizabeth was born into the UK royal family and trained for the throne from childhood.

Princess Masako was living her own independent life. Her involvement with court activities was very peripheral. She did not want to marry the Crown Prince. Why any individual or entity would have insisted on her specifically is a mystery. (One would hope the Crown Prince would be neither so irresponsible nor selfish as to do it simply because of personal affinity on his part. This is me being polite.)

It would be hard enough to find *any* modern person, male or female, who could marry into that life and not suffer to the point of illness. At the very least, one would think that common sense would mandate that the principal and non-negotiable requirements for consideration of candidates would include a background of being as close as possible to court life, and most importantly, an strong and consistently demonstrated DESIRE to marry into the imperial family.

Masako caved because she did not wish to be the cause of problems for her father, who was put in a terrible position professionally and personally. The Crown basically demanded his daughter. Whether this action was driven by the Prince or IHA doesn’t matter.

Her story is another version of the Diana tragedy. While Diana had the desire to marry the Prince, she was only 19, not very sophisticated, and had no idea what she was getting into.

Masako was an educated adult, who did know, and didn’t want it.

In neither case was the well-being or fate of the uterus owner a consideration.
Imran - 17 November 2012

I will pray for her “May Allah Gave her what she need”
Kala - 30 December 2012

I would like to add my voice of support to HRH Crown Princess Masako. She may not be able to read my comment, but still her other admirers will know that there are many sane people in the world who continue to wish the best for her. I was charmed by her story when she married into the royal family, and still continue to follow her progress. I still have their formal wedding picture in royal kimonos on my wall. Princess Masako is smart and strong. I know that she, together with the Crown Prince, will triumph over all the circumstances surrounding her and her family.
mpst - 13 May 2013

I’m not usually a royal family fans, I didn’t know much about Japan Imperial Family’s rule, but CP Masako issue attracted me into it, because I have concern about woman issue. You all had say what i’m going to say and yes there’s a lot of us that suggest them to leave the palace to get better life, but I’m SURE it’s not that easy, considering the system and the lose face factor. I just wish they will strong enough to get through all of those shit, and enjoying life behind close door with their little family. May Allah gave all they need (as Imran said)