picture of the day

Bon voyage

29 Comments

Crown Prince Naruhito is seen off by his wife Crown Princess Masako at the entrance of the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Monday. The crown prince left on a weeklong visit to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

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29 Comments
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and WHY is she not joining him?

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Radiant . . . glowing . . . never seen two people so happy to say goodbye.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Never seen her so happy to say goodbye

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

"why is she not joining him?"

Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in the last week of June is bloody hot!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Why can't she give him a goodbye hug?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Nice to see her, wouldn't want to be her.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

That was quick. A different photo to take our minds off nukes and Noda.

Hope they are doing well.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Masako-san

Now you have a chamnce to flee the cage, I mean palace!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Funny to see how people whose every post on this site ridicules the country and it's habits, can't stay away from here...

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

I think she needs a holiday.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think she needs a holiday.

I think I need a holiday!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All your posts are suggesting there is something wrong in their marriage, no? If so, Crown Princess needs to file a divorce and leave Crown Prince. There is nothing wrong with that. It is okay. Life is too shortm Masako sama. .

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All your posts are suggesting there is something wrong in their marriage, no? If so, Crown Princess needs to file a divorce and leave Crown Prince. There is nothing wrong with that. It is okay. Life is too shortm Masako sama. .

No... it's about the fact that Emperor and family live in a virtual prison of social isolation and powerlessness. It's like a human museum, or worse yet a human "zoo", governed by tradition. Nobody really enjoys that kind of life, and definitely not Princess Masako, who would much rather work as a diplomat.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

That's Crown Princess to you!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"and WHY is she not joining him?"

Because the Imperial Household Agency won't allow her to leave on trips until she "improves" her behavior stemming from her "personality disorder" (read: severe depression caused by the Imperial Household Agency's demands and soul-crushing bullying). Trips outside the castle are only for good, subservient princesses. So very sad.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

and WHY is she not joining him?

Would YOU take your wife to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos? ;-)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

and WHY is she not joining him?

Masako-san looks very fine everyday but she still has a psychological problem and it seems she can't control herself in case of something. So she is better not go overseas.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

and WHY is she not joining him?

Crown Princess Masako ordered a new 15" MacBook Pro Retina Display and it is being delivered this weekend. Sagawa Delivery won't deliver it without someone to sign for it. Royalty or not, that's the rule.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in the last week of June is bloody hot!

Oh come on, it isn't that hot. Give me any of those countries anytime of the year over rainy season and the humidity here - and been to two out of there so know what I'm talking about.

She IS caged but SHE made the choice. She's a smart woman who went along with the game for benefits to her family from my understanding. Make you bed, lie in it... If she's not happy, she could be a role model and walk out. But nope. She doesn't. And don't give me the lines about it is is impossible for her. It isn't. She's had numerous chances to make runs for it but hasn't. I wish she would. And then write a book about it all.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Now he arrive Thailand : From Thailand

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Off to "study the catfish."

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I have always liked the way Prince Naruhito smiles, as seen in this photo. Tells much about his warm character in my view. Underneath that peaceful smile is the mental toughness to state in a public conference on Masako's mental illness that she is being deprived of her personality since she quit her promising diplomatic career, risking his own confrontation with the royal establishment that controls him, for the mere protection of his wife.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

sasu@

Would YOU take your wife to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos? ;-)

Yes, have gone with MY wife to Thai, spending 5 wonderful weeks of beach, trekking, rafting, elephant riding, and most importantly supporting locals on Phuket immediately following THEIR deadly tsunami, etc., and, in fact, would travel with MY wife anywhere in this world (except maybe where they lop off heads simply coz of your passport.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

and WHY is she not joining him?

He goes there for his job, not holiday. She is a full-time housewife, she never works. I'm sure she can go vacationing in South Asia or anywhere in the world as much as she wishes, but they never let you know about the really private trips of the Imperials.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

She is a full-time housewife

LMAO! You make it sound as if she actually does anything around "the house". Her depression was brought on because they wouldn't let her do anything, wouldn't let her make ny decisions and wouldn't let her even be a housewife.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

LMAO! You make it sound as if she actually does anything around "the house". Her depression was brought on because they wouldn't let her do anything, wouldn't let her make ny decisions and wouldn't let her even be a housewife.

Well thanks to the RHA, they are the people that call the shots, ensure strict protocols, I heard it is worse than a nightmare being under their control. Everything in that family has to be done as certain and precise way. I heard they are a lot more extreme than most other royal families around the world. In time, that can get to you. Honestly, do you think the woman is truly happy and happy to be there?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I heard it is worse than a nightmare being under their control.

That's the tatemae, the public image. There freedom stops where the public eyes start seeing. They won't be seen partying in night clubs like the Brits and J-media won't publish any of their private photos (that can be seen in certain foreign media, and most are really boring... but that shows they can have a life). My impression is she is an "everything or nothing" person. If she was going to official trips, she'd want to do it without censoring herself, telling her mind like Hillary Clinton or Michele Obama, not doing the decorative plant. But that's not acceptable due to the status of the imperial family. She had clashes with the Kunaicho due to that in the years after her marriage. So now, she stays in the shadow and that's probably definitive. From some sources, I've heard she has a social life, friends, activities that are totally private. Good for her. But you will never have some public admission of it.

wouldn't let her even be a housewife.

The legend. That's probably like Marie-Antoinette. They won't let her decide even the fold of napkins for an official dinner, but during her leisure time (most days) if she wants to play the housewife and cook mushy nikujaga or the infamous golden kare rice, peel potatoes and all, she does as she likes. Maybe they installed her a kitchen that looks like yours in an aisle of the palace. It's just a supposition she is interested in cooking. Maybe she prefers painting and they installed her an atelier. Or she does pole dancing. Or she writes a column in JT, under a pseudonym.

Honestly, do you think the woman is truly happy and happy to be there?

Same question for every soul on this planet. Why not ? Everybody has "limitations" of some kinds and has to abandon some hopes. She is only the most famous case. There are people that seem to have an extremely motivating life... and then, one day, you learn they had a nervous break down, that they hated every moment of it. Happiness is never about where you are. It's an inner state.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Is hugging in public Japanese custom now? Masako-sama is beautiful. Is it a Japanese custom Prince to accompany Princess out of the country now? I left Japan many many years ago when I have never seen kissing people outside anywhere. US occupied forces introduced kissing but .... Enlighten me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Princess looks very smart !

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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