Crown princess leaves on first official overseas trip in 11 years

She should apply for asylum while there.

She should apply for asylum while there.

What a nice thing to say.

I guess life as a princess is not quite living up to her expectations...

Marrying royalty is not necessarily good for your mental health.

I truly sympathize with the poor woman.

What is the nature of these "ongoing treatments"? After eleven years, can't we suspect they are not effective? I suspect these sorts of statements are just to prevent any real changes happening withing the royal family structure/gulag that would accommodate a sophisticated women trapped within their royal family clutches.

Dear goodness she looks ill. Very pale, and quite unwell indeed... and I saw on TV her leaving on the plane, she looked quite literally like a rabbit in headlights.

I hope the foreign air will do her some good ><

I thought she looked fine. Many Japanese are very white (even minus the rice powder -shiro nuka-).

nothing a couple of beers won't fix

I thought the stress-induced illness stemmed from the RHA not allowing her to travel. This seems like a good change and the right fix.

kickboardApr. 28, 2013 - 05:51PM JST

What a nice thing to say.

I think the poster was referring to a situational position, rather than a psychological one. If you had any in-depth knowledge of Japan, deeper than Sailor Moon, you would be well aware that a lot of her problems arise from an intelligent and modern woman being dovetailed into some 10th Century Asian ideal of womanhood, which makes Saudi Arabia appear enlightened.

I admire the woman's cojones for refusing to play the game and I admire Naruhito, who I knew in the UK 25 years ago, for keeping a watch on her back. They both should seek asylum outside of Japan, after the debacle I watched today of Abe 'toilet boy' and his cohorts waving their hands in the air and shouting banzai at the king.

This country is going retro, very very quickly,

I admire Naruhito, who I knew in the UK 25 years ago, for keeping a watch on her back.

Dog, thank you for sharing this. I truly feel for them. Von Voyage and enjoy.

I am currently visiting Japan, I can see many changes in Japan. This country is filled with many rules, regulations rituals. Free falls to banzai nationalism?

and I saw on TV her leaving on the plane, she looked quite literally like a rabbit in headlights.

She hates the chore of appearing on TV,in public ... Nothing new. Won't change ever.

What is the nature of these "ongoing treatments"? After eleven years, can't we suspect they are not effective?

Not sending her to public duty. It's 100% effective.

Dear goodness she looks ill. Very pale

She looks extremely genki for a woman of her age that would have lived 2 decades of psychological issues to the point that it's no longer plausible. Some excuse is needed. Her suit is pale. She could use a stylist for fashion.

I'm sorry that she feels bad and that she has felt bad for so long. Regardless of her position as princess, as a human being she deserves our kindness. I would like her to know that there are many people who care about her as just another person struggling with her personal demons or sources of pain. Joy to you, Crown Princess Masako.

Run, Masako, run!

I guess life as a princess is not quite living up to her expectations...

I think the opposite actually - I think it is absolutely living up to her expectations, which is why she turned him down for marriage at least twice in the first place and finally only caved when Empress Michiko visited and personally promised to protect her (fail) AND the shadow-men put intense pressure on her Father pointing out repeatedly how "good it would be for his careeer" if his daughter were to marry the Prince.

She did her duty as a good daughter and citizen of Japan - and this is the result. And the sad thing is, it could all have been so different. Her considerable talents as a linguist and diplomat coould have been put to good use to provide a new modern public image of Japan and the Royal Family. She could have done so much good for her country. What a wasted oportunity.

ChibaChick, you've nailed it completely! What a waste this whole thing has been.

The Dutch royals have a life. They go shopping, have credit cards, do the grocery, buy their own clothes, travel as tourists, go to their favorite hair dresser. What a contrast. If I were her, I would stay in Holland. It would create such a scandal it would change the Japanese Royal Agency forever. If not bringing an end to that house of parasites. Poor woman.

She is over stressed and does more than we know. I hope this lovely lady has a good rest。

The Imperial Household is controlled by the Imperial Household Agency. It controls every single detail and nothing can happen without its permission. Even the laws which govern that agency can't be changed even by the Diet.

The good citizens of Japan should raise a petition to remove Imperial Household Agency forever for them. They have been acting like mean jail guards for centuries.

Did you know the Imperial Household Agency have built the best 1st class living quarters in Imperial Palace by tax payer's money?

Even the laws which govern that agency can't be changed even by the Diet.

Umm you sure about this? The Diet was going to change the succession laws to make Aiko next in line after Naruhito but that fell through after Kiko's fertility treatments (alleged). If they have the power to change that, they, the Diet that is, has the power to change anything in the IHA.

I wonder what omiyagi she will bring back for the fold back home.

I wonder what omiyagi she will bring back for the fold back home.

I hear some of the foliage on sale in Amsterdam is very popular as a gift... and I'm sure she'll have no trouble at customs.

Poor lady - she doesn't look happy at all.

Naruhito should have the balls to do like his little sister and leave the Imperial family and seek a better life for his wife and daughter. Maybe that would make the latest wave of "restorationists" wake up.

Dog:

This country is going retro, very very quickly,

I, too, watched those banzai-ing oyaji do their thing yesterday and it feels very, very old.

Run!!!! I hope she magically gets away from everyone and files divorce. Perhaps THEN she could be the promised role model?

Just a question but is Aiko okay attending school with mommy away??

sorry, i have no sympathy or respect for the b****. she's able to go horseback riding/ out with her friends or family when there are royal family events but she make the "sacrifice" to go overseas. all on our tax money of course. its no like kunaicho can physically restrain her from doing anything she really wants to do. she only does what interests HER! and if she's not interested, she make the excuse that she is sick.

She shoud borrow the king's pushbike and pop down a coffee shop for a nice slice of cake. That'll put a smle on her face.

@globalwatcher: Thank you for your observations. Most of us here actually live in Japan, and a: are pretty much aware as taxpayers we fund the Imperial Family and said household. b: couldn't care less about your opinion.

theResidentApr. 29, 2013 - 07:04PM JST

@globalwatcher: Thank you for your observations. Most of us here actually live in Japan, and a: are pretty much aware as taxpayers we fund the Imperial Family and said household. b: couldn't care less about your opinion.

You are perfectly diplomatic!! Ignorant and arrogant. I am careless about your opinion that are all based on assumptions.

You cant even apply for a job at the IHA - you inherit it from your father and his before you, or from a wider circle if no one is available. The rules and secrecy that abound are not about keeping the Royal Family in power, its about keeping themselves in power. And theyve done it successfully for many generations. A bunch of nameless, faceless people who run this entire household and have made a fortune for themselves. I am amazed it is still allowed. Surely somewhere there must be some Japanese saying "waaaait just a minute......"

ChibaChickApr. 29, 2013 - 11:11PM JST

Who is in charge of IHA?

Sounds like Imperial families do not have constitutional human rights while every Japanese citizen does. Emperor Hieohiro cannot retire at age 65.

@'globalwatcher': At a rough guess, the current Emperor is Akihito, and he is 79. I'm not sure who 'Emperor Hieohiro' is or was, or if he is even 65! If you are in Tokyo at the moment - I am free to teach you the basics about Japan. Feel free to contact me.

Sounds like Imperial families do not have constitutional human rights while every Japanese citizen does.

By law, the Japanese emperor is the only person in the world forbidden to eat fugu.Poor guy....

Princess Masako didn't show up at the banquet. Poor Naruhito had to go alone and unescorted. I guess he's used to it by now ...