'Depressed' Crown Princess comes out to play

[emad]

The Independent
By David McNeill in Tokyo
25 September 2004


Japan's Princess Masako appears to be slowly edging back into public life after months of seclusion and an ongoing battle to regain her mental health.

But the Japanese press has been warned again by imperial handlers that the princess's fragile recovery from a nervous disorder could be jeopardised by "excessive interest" in her condition.

Official pictures released yesterday showed the tanned and healthy-looking princess playing and dancing inside the Crown Prince's palace with Aiko, her two-year-old child. A press conference hosted by Hideki Hayashida, Grand Master of the Crown Prince's household, tried to dispel rumours about the health of the princess, 40, who was diagnosed in July with an "adjustment disorder", a stress-induced condition normally associated with student returnees struggling to readjust to life in Japan.

Masako retired temporarily from public duties in December last year and dropped almost completely out of sight for more than six months, fuelling speculation that she had suffered a nervous breakdown and wanted out of her marriage to Crown Princes Naruhito. Some of the weekly press has blamed the decline in the princess's health on the clamour for an imperial infant boy in the imperial household, which is facing a succession crisis unless it can produce a male heir.Mr Hayashida said: "The condition of the princess is improving thanks to medical treatment and psychotherapy. She is playing tennis and accompanying her husband on some official duties. But she worries that her every move is being scrutinised. She is very aware of how her behaviour perceived."
More:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=565507

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. If you put an intelligent, educated woman in a position where she

has to dumb down for appearances, you had better expect her psyche to shrivel up.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Prime example: Laura Bush

She traveled through Europe after college graduation, supported Gene McCarthy in '68, etc. Look at her now.

And with the exception of intelligence and education, Princess Diana. She was nice enough, but she had her feet wrapped too.

[emad]

3. Diana = Thatcherite cold war mercenary who became expendable

No tears there....

[dogtag]

4. Yep, disgraceful, self-promoting, treacherous brat. Buh-bye (n/t)

[liberalmuse]

5. You're joking, right?

God, I hope so.

[NVMojo]

6. ...or

not finding any empathy today???