Imperial family in turmoil over sick Princess

[emad]

From Richard Lloyd Parry in Tokyo
Snip from The Times


CROWN PRINCESS MASAKO of Japan has been treated for depression, triggering the Japanese Imperial family’s most serious crisis since the Second World War.

Despite claims by Imperial officials that Princess Masako was suffering simply from stress and exhaustion, sources close to the Princess and Crown Prince Naruhito have told The Times that her condition was closer to a nervous breakdown.

Since abandoning her public duties last December she has been prescribed low-dosage antidepressants. She has also suffered from headaches, dizziness and shingles, symptoms often associated with psychological distress.

Last week her husband provoked panic among imperial courtiers when he accused them of making “moves that nullified her career and nullified her character based on that career”.

More:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1117530,00.html

[CulturalNomad]

1. I thought the headline was referring to the Bush family and W! LOL

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Princess Masako gave up a successful career in business when she

married into the Japanese royal family. In exchange, she has a very restricted life with every minute being planned and dictated to her, becoming a brood mare for the royals, and relinquishing almost all of her personal life.

I'd be depressed too.

[No2W2004]

3. It's hard for me to understand

I've read that Princess Masako went to Harvard and one of Japan's top university and was a diplomat. She wanted to continue as a diplomat once she was married. I understand that if you are a member of any royal family that there are certain duties expected of you. From what I've read, the Imperial Household Agency has put a lot of pressure on the princess to conform to a traditional role. Why is the Imperial Household Agency allowed to exert such power over the family? Hopefuly they will back off and the Princess can serve in a way that is benificial to everyone.