Crown princess turns 54; says she feels awe about future

Crown Princess Masako, she looks very elegant and regal in this picture, depression is an illness that can affect anyone, I hope she gets full support and recovers fully.

54!? Damn. She still looks pretty good.

Bungle, your right the back drop is not very appealing or coming of a emperors state room, its more of a 1970 school room, why don't they employ a designer who could incorporate the spirit of Japan, something that could in body the spirit, like a cloth back drop to represent a Kimono, black panels of wood with gold inlays of cranes, etc

I would be honored to have lunch with this elegant woman. Pass this message along please.

Good thing she's at least got some grey matter...

Wishing Crown Princess Masako a happy 54th birthday . Cast off all stress out of your mind and lead a normal carefree balanced life to enjoy real happiness in life.

As Brian says, depression can affect anyone. It's also very hard to recover from fully. It's quite possible she will be affected by it for the rest of her life. But I'm she'll perform her upcoming role admirably.

I would be honored to have lunch with this elegant woman. Pass this message along please.

You are number 3,984,105 in the queue.

I totally respect this woman but she has been brainwashed by the establishment.

Unlike in the fairy tales, princess and queens have a different life than that which is idealized dreamy paradise with living happily thereafter.

Any position in society as within a family has its role and with it comes responsibility in the eyes of that society that recognizes that position.

May she be able to take care of herself within such a demanding position and represent this nation with its people and culture so deep and respected world wide.

I wonder why the need to mention her illness several times in the article? Once is enough, surely?

She could have been a really special jet-setting babe if she hadn't been pressured into marrying that guy. That was the start of her depression.

I find the remarks about the decor interesting. I've read that some people only see a dull piece of pegboard, an idea, while hard to understand, seems to be born out by above comments. I've also read that only those fit to be an emperor can see the illustrious decor incorporating centuries of artistic history. Not that I believe such nonsense, and I'm sure most readers here can see what I see too.

I totally respect this woman but she has been brainwashed by the establishment.

I would suggest the very opposite. Her depression stems from the fact that she does not have any plans to be brainwashed.

The current Empress went through something very similar, as she is a "commoner" as well and had to deal with Hirohito's mother and wife as well.

Masako will come into her own when she becomes Empress!

What a lovely lady she is. We will be so proud to have her as our Empress.

Again with the pegboard walls!? What do you say we all start a GoFundMe page so the IHA can remodel and make it look more like it should. She's a royal and will soon be empress, she's not a cashier at Home Depot.

I don’t blame Masako for feeling that way. Joining the imperial family hasn’t been good for her health. I imagine becoming empress won’t be any better

She is sitting in front of ... What??? Maybe someone got from trash pile from garbage business?