Crown princess treated for depression

[kskiska]

The Japanese imperial household agency yesterday admitted for the first time that Crown Princess Masako, the wife of the heir to the Chrysanthemum throne, is suffering from anxiety and depression and not simple fatigue as it had previously insisted.

The revelation that the 40-year-old princess is psychologically ill is certain to fuel speculation that she is not suited to life in one of the world's most conservative monarchies, and that she is unlikely to produce a long-awaited male heir.

In an unusually detailed account, the agency said that the princess, who is a Harvard graduate and former career diplomat, was suffering from an "adjustment disorder" brought on by the stress of adapting to life at the palace.

(snip)

The princess has been under intense pressure to give birth to a son since 1993 when she married the Crown Prince Naruhito. In May he caused a stir when he suggested that forces inside the imperial household were trying to crush her personality.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,7369,1273270,00.html

[Dookus]

1. was she the one

that went mute for a long time a few years ago?

[kskiska]

4. No, I think that was her mother-in-law

Could a divorce be in the offing?

Considering that the sex of a baby is determined by the male, why isn't her husband the one in the hospital?

[aquart]

2. She's 40 and they're waiting for a male heir?

This woman needs a divorce.

[daleo]

3. Age 40 and no male heir

Yeah, life will be hell for her. History has not treated women in this position kindly. Royalty is such an anachronistic institution. I don't really have much knowledge of Japanese values in this regard, but if divorce is not an absolute no-no, I am sure there will be intense pressure for a younger wife (i.e. brood mare). The fact that this news is coming from official sources within the royal household would imply that.

[Rowdyboy]

5. From what I've read, her husband the crown prince

loves her deeply and has no intentions of divorcing her. All parliament needs to do is change the damned law to allow females to take the throne. It could be handled overnight and solve the whole problem. That poor woman has suffered horribly, She gave up a promising career (either banking or diplomacy, I can't remember) to do the princess thing at age 30, and popped out a couple of baby girls.

[daleo]

6. Here's hoping they can both withstand the pressure, then

It won't be easy.

[psychopomp]

11. The law will be changed and with it Japanese attitudes towards women

The situation cannot be helped: even the alternates (children within the royal family but not the progeny of the Emperor and Empress) are female.

Divorce is out of the question, too. Prince Naruhito is committed to his wife, by all accounts. They have one child (the first pregnacy resulted in the loss of the child) and she will be the Empress.

Matriachy will catch chauvinistic men with their pants down.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. She gave up a career with the Japanese foreign ministry

[Hekate]

7. Historically, there have been Japanese Empresses...

Long ago, to be sure, but the Japanese have a long history and equally long memories. Thus the only child of Masako and Naruhito, a daughter, could succeed him to the throne if the laws were changed.

Apparently there's some talk of this among the populace -- the topic shows up in newspapers and magazines and is of particular interest to women, who are sympathetic to Masako's plight. The ordinary Japanese woman's life is constricted by custom, but the princess is literally trapped by the dictates of custom. It's not surprising that she's buckled under the strain. I sincerely hope her daughter fares better.

Hekate

[dand]

8. What a tragedy, the Japanese princess can't have a son,

the American boy King, George the second, can't have the middle east, whats next, peasants having to eat cake?

[saigon68]

9. No cake for US

Just endless WAR


where our children will become MURDERERS and CANNON FODDER

[dand]

10. Amen!

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Well, considering that the last Japanese empress reigned

in the 600s sometime, I don't think it's too fresh in the collective Japanese memory.

But then again, I don't think too many Japanese really give a rat's patootie about whether Naruhito's successor is male or female.

[cap]

13. her mother-in-law suffered from depression too

it was brought on by the stress imposed by the Imperial Household.

The Crown Prince promised her he would protect her from this when they first got married. I think she is letting her illness be know so that things will change in the Imperial Household.