Crown Princess admits she is ‘insecure’ about Empress role
Troubled Japanese royal aware that she faces new challenges after Emperor Akihito abdicates in 2019
JAPAN’S Crown Princess Masako yesterday pledged to do her best despite feeling “insecure” about becoming empress in mere months, in a candid statement released on her 55th birthday.
“Even though I feel insecure about how helpful I will be when I think about the days ahead… I want to devote myself to the happiness of the people so I will make an effort to that end,” said the Crown Princess.
Emperor Akihito will step down on April 30, 2019 – the first abdication in the Japanese imperial family for more than two centuries. His eldest son and Masako’s husband, Naruhito, will ascend the throne the next day.
The Harvard- and Oxford-educated Masako left a promising career as a diplomat to marry into the imperial family in 1993. She gave birth to Princess Aiko in 2001 but continued to face pressure to produce a son as only male heirs can take the throne under Japanese law.
The pressure eased in 2006, however, when her sister-in-law gave birth to Prince Hisahito, now 12. She has made few public appearances since 2003 and has struggled with her mental health. In her birthday statement, Masako revealed she was recuperating from a stress-induced illness ahead of the imperial succession. She said: “I am delighted at the fact that I can perform more duties than before, as I have tried to improve my physical condition.”
Her doctors warned, in a separate statement, that it was important for the Crown Princess to continue treatment as she remained vulnerable to fatigue, especially after a large ceremony or successive duties.
Emperor Akihito indicated that he wished to stand down in a rare TV
‘I want to devote myself to the happiness of the people so I will make an effort to that end’
address in April 2016, in which he revealed he feared he would eventually be too frail for the role.
“Fortunately, I am now in good health,” he said. “But when I consider that my fitness level is gradually declining, I am worried that it may become more difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state.
“As we are in the midst of a rapidly ageing society, I would like to talk about what would be a desirable role for the emperor in a time when the emperor, too, becomes advanced in age.”
In May 2017, the government passed legislation that cleared the path for his abdication – the first in Japan for 200 years. There is no republican movement to speak of in Japan, and the Emperor and his family enjoy the admiration of much of the country. Emperor Akihito’s unexpected move presented a challenge since there was no law to deal with an emperor retiring from what is usually a job for life – and it reignited debate about allowing women to ascend the traditionally male-only throne. Some were worried that changing the rules to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan’s future monarchs at risk of political manipulation.
The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan, given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito’s father, Hirohito. monasteries around the country ... you’re willing to travel a bit, go Myanmar.”
Critics said the Twitter co-founder appeared to be blissfully unaware that thousands of people have been killed in Burma amid a military crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority.
The Burmese army has allegedly burnt areas inhabited by the Rohingya, as well as slaughtered and raped civilians, causing a mass exodus to neighbouring Bangladesh.
However, the Burmese authorities deny committing any human rights abuses.
One Twitter user said: “The here is ... wow.”
“This is an extremely irresponsible recommendation,” said another. “Does he pay no attention to the news and the outcry on his own platform?” if to tonedeafness