Welcome to Issues in Japan.
The theme this time is: Two bitter comments from Prince Akishino's closest aide, and Michiko's teaching to “be close to the people".
According to Joseijishin magazine, February 2 issue:
On Valentine's Day, the streets of New York will be dyed pink and show windows will be decorated with the word "LOVE".
On this day, Mako, the eldest daughters of the Akishino family, will have been in the U.S. for three months.
Mako and her husband Kei Komuro can enjoy their free and easy life because the Japanese Consulate in New York and the Japanese TV stations have an agreement that they will not shoot any footage of the Komuros.
The couple is said to be accompanied by local security guards as needed, but this is also believed to be influenced by the Japanese government's intentions.
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On the other hand, the following "arrangement" caused controversy in Japan as well.
On January 27, Prince and Princess Akishino had a meeting with the new consul general to New York.
However, it is extremely unusual for a consul general to meet with members of the royal family at the time of their new assignment.
Even if it was just a formal greeting, I can't help but think that the Akishino family made a preemptive move for the sake of Maako's future.
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As her parents, the Prince and Princess Akishino must be concerned about their beloved daughter who lives far away overseas.
However, the fact that Mako, who has left the Imperial Family and is now a private citizen, enjoys "special treatment", is also a problem for the Akishino family, and the public has been very cold to them.
Ever since Mako's marriage, the public's criticism has only grown stronger.
Prince Akishino is said to be very nervous.
As proof of this, in late January, Kaji high steward, who is the head of the Akishino family's entourage, twice issued a "complaint," saying, "As a general matter, I wonder if it is appropriate for the media to report on a weekly basis, based on speculation, about a minor who is about to take an entrance examination for higher education."
This is the statement made in response to a series of reports that Prince Hisahito, who is currently attending Ochanomizu Women's University Junior High School, will be going on to Tsukuba University High School through a "special route" called the "Partner School Admission System".
At a regular press conference held on January 21, Kaji high steward was asked by a reporter about his views on the reports of higher education, but he did not respond on the spot, but released a written statement later, on January 24.
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Professor Shuji Yagi of the Faculty of International Studies at Reitaku University, who is an expert on the Imperial Family, pays attention to the word "speculation”.
The word "speculation" was used not only at this press conference, but also at Mako's wedding press conference, and I can sense their disgust of the public and the media.
If Prince Hisahito were to be enrolled in one of the candidates that have already been reported, there would be a risk that people would argue, "It wasn't speculation, was it?
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Kaji high steward said, "It is still regrettable that such articles are appearing without any announcement from us."
Professor Hidehiko Kasahara of the Faculty of Law at Keio University, who is an expert on the history of the imperial family system, explained as follows.
One of the major roles of the Imperial Household Agency is to act as an intermediary between the Imperial Family and the people.
They are probably taking preventive measures considering the overheated media coverage of Mako's marriage then.
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In October of last year, Mako announced that she suffered from complex PTSD caused by slander.
At the wedding press conference, she said, "It is a painful and sad feeling that false information has spread as if it were fact".
At his birthday press conference in November last year, Prince Akishino also expressed his view that "a certain standard is necessary when refuting an article.
This latest complaint may be proof that the reports has exceeded those standards.
However, Professor Yagi has doubts about this "line of judgment”.
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According to Professor Yagi, the Imperial Household Agency's response to date can be seen as "do nothing, plan nothing".
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Discussions on how the Imperial Family should disseminate information have been going on for nearly 30 years within the Imperial Household Agency.
●The difference in stance between Empress Emerita Michiko and Prince Akishino.
A major change occurred in the 1990s.
Kiko, now Princess Akishino, and Masako, now Empress, joined the Imperial Family, and the media began to cover the topic of the Imperial Family extensively.
In the process, the idea that the Imperial Household Agency must protect their privacy must have grown stronger.
It was around this time that the members of the Imperial Family began to take actions against the criticism by themselves.
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In October 1993, on her 59th birthday, then Empress Michiko fell ill at the Imperial Palace.
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In addition to the fatigue and strain of performing her official duties on a tight schedule, the stress due to bashing Michiko by some people caused her to suffer from aphonia.
Amid all this, however, Michiko's positive "attitude" was expressed in the birthday message that was released to the public, ........................................................
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"At that time, it was a basic rule that the royal family did not say what was right or wrong in public.
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However, It was not until February of the following year that she was able to speak again on official duties."
As a result of Michiko's earnest words and actions, the bashing gradually eased.
At that time, Prince Akishino was learning from the way of life of his parents as a model for the imperial family.
At his birthday press conference in 1997, he said, "The Imperial Family has continued to exist because of the support of the Japanese people," which I admired as a statement typical of the time.
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However, after years, in contrast to Michiko, who prefaced her remarks with the words, "I may have my own shortcomings," Prince Akishino's "complaint" this time was a rebuttal from the start.
So, it is understandable that the people would feel defensive.
Historically, the imperial family and the people have not been in a hostile relationship, but rather, the imperial family has existed as a position to be close to the vulnerable people.
I believe that studying such history and traditions anew may lead to regaining a calm and happy relationship between the Imperial Family and the people.
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For detaileed information please visit the following:
https://youtu.be/0tFkl9FZcac
That’s all for now. Thank you for your interest.
