Tokyo and tech through the eyes of a split pea

Joining the Imperial family

As mentioned briefly here, Princess Masako has been rather stressed, depressed, and in not so great health for the past year+. In the Prince’s announcement yesterday, he made it clear her ill-health was largely a fact of Imperial duties and not being able to maintain a career, let alone essentially function as a “normal person” – a clear jab at the Imperial Household. Such a statement could only have been made with the support of the Emporer and Empress. Princess Masako is an intelligent, well-educated, amibitious and aspiring woman now forced to Imperial duties of being a pawn. She’s not even allowed to drive – during her “escape” to the family’s summer home, she insisted she be allowed to drive a car. Ironic, isn’t it?

You’d think an Imperial family member would be able to make their own decisions, yet in reality the strings are being pulled by 60, 70 year old retired politicians molding the family into what they believe an Imperial Household should be like, with arcane early-morning (5am) rituals that most of the public doesn’t even know about. People think, “what a cush life”, living off tax-yen and having servants. In reality, it’s a life of not being able to realize your full potential. It’s particularly difficult for those who enter into the Imperial family after having experienced some semblence of a normal life, as Princess Masako had until getting married. In terms of the puppetry, I believe there are strong parellels between the Catholic church – with the Pope vs. his Cardinals – and the Imperial family vs. the Imperial Household.

I want to say ultimately that publicity of this is a good thing – there is increasing intolerance in this society of woman being pressured against pursuing a career. In addition, the only potential heir currently being their daughter is also causing a stir, with rewriting succession rules to accomodate females being considered. As sad as it is, this risk-averse culture hates to change unless “shit happens”.

More details about the situation.