Japanese Crown Princely Couple Tour Tsunami Site
During the weekend, Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako went to Iwanuma in Miyagi prefecture to see close-up the damage done as a result of March’s tsunami after the 9.0 earthquake that struck the country. Since the devastation, the couple have been visiting evacuees from the area at evacuation sites in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. This was the first time they have gone to the places where many lost their lives or their homes. They met with Iwanuma mayor Tsneaki Iguchi who informed the royals about the damage. At one point, Naruhito and Masako bowed during their tour, as if they had prayed for those who lost their lives. There was some concern whether the Crown Princess would accompany the heir to Iwanuma because she has been attending school with the couple’s daughter, Princess Aiko. Aiko has been experiencing anxiety due to bullying last year and Masako has been going to her daughter’s classes since then. Apparently, Masako was able to go |
Doctors Update on Crown Princess Masako’s Condition
Doctors treating Japan’s Crown Princess Masako released a statement about her current condition Friday, saying she is prone to fatigue. The Crown Princess has been suffering from a stress induced condition for about ten years and has mostly withdrawn from public life. 48 year old Masako is “in a situation where her health condition can easily worsen due to accumulated fatigue,” said the statement disclosed Friday by grand master Kyoji Komachi. But Komachi also said, ”It does not mean that the Crown Princess’ conditions are getting worse. I would like people to warmly watch the Crown Princess.” The medical team said it recommends that the Crown Princess take sufficient rest before slowly expanding her royal activities. Masako was a career diplomat before marrying Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993. Once she entered the imperial family, she was placed under enormous pressure to give birth to a male heir. That pressure weighed heavily on her and increased wh |
Crown Princess Masako Talks About Disaster Victims, Illness
The wife of the heir to the Japanese throne marks her 48th birthday today. Crown Princess Masako has been seen little over the years due to a stress induced mental illness. But this year, she often accompanied husband Crown Prince Naruhito to the areas hit hard by the March earthquake-tsunami and also meet with evacuees. Many wondered if this was the rebirth of Masako. Yes, says the medical team helping her with her recovery, but not so much. The doctors said it was “ill-minded” for the media to say the Crown Princess had completely healed. “We cannot expect a quick recovery as far as the situation is not improved,” they said. For nearly nine years, Masako has nearly dropped out of public life altogether because of her problems. She has been taking medication and speaks to counselors. As part of her birthday, she released a statement where she talked about the March disaster. “I shall deeply bear in my mind feelings of people in the disaster-hit areas and |
Naruhito & Masako Encourage Evacuees
Like the Emperor and Empress last week, Japan’s Crown Princely couple met with the evacuees of last month’s earthquake and tsunami at a Ajinomoto stadium-turned-shelter in western Tokyo. Both Naruhito and Masako – in a rare public appearance – sat with about 130 evacuees on the floor, listened to their stories and gave words of encouragement. One evacuee thanked them for their sympathy, according to the NHK. Another woman said appreciates attempts by the Imperial family, including the Emperor and Empress, to curb their power consumption to support quake survivors. Most of the evacuees Naruhito and Masako met with were from Iwaki City and other municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture. Sources: Reuters, Business Standard |
