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Naruhito admits the "ups and downs" of Empress Masako

2020-02-25T15:12:46.979Z


The one that was known as the sad princess is still recovering from the stress and depression disorder she has suffered for years


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The Japanese emperor Naruhito has turned 60. Despite the important anniversary, the monarch did not take a mass bath, as planned, and the congregation of tens of thousands of monarchists in the vicinity of the royal palace was suspended to prevent further spread of the coronavirus in Japanese territory. Naruhito, however, appeared alone. And he did not avoid the issues in vogue: the incidence of Covid-19 in Japan, and the always questioned health of his wife Masako.

The scene was eloquent in itself. Naruhito, enthroned last October in a massive ceremony full of symbolism, appeared this time only in front of the media. He did it on Sunday, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. As Masako was not with him, the questions about the empress's well-being were served. "It still has its ups and downs," Naruhito admitted.

"His fatigue tends to continue after a large event or when they take place one after another," the emperor added to justify his wife's absence. "I have never wanted to be exposed too much, but to continue doing the work I can do," said Naruhito, who remarked that Masako "is still recovering" and that "she is a good counselor in both private and official matters."

The health of the Empress, who did attend the expenses for Naruhito's access to the Chrysanthemum throne in October, has been in the mouth of the Japanese for years. Known in her day as the sad princess, Masako's “ups and downs” were first revealed in 2004, when her doctors diagnosed her with an “adaptation disorder” due to the stress of her real role.

A stress that has since separated him from social acts, and a maladjustment that has been associated with the contrast between his brilliant work past and the rigid palatial life. Born in Tokyo in 1963 in a diplomatic family, Masako grew up between the USSR and the US, learning Russian, English, French and German. He went through the Harvard Department of Economics in 1981 and then studied Law in Tokyo, where he ended up being selected to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But then, back in 1986, Masako met Naruhito at a party in honor of the infant Elena de Borbón. Although Masako initially rejected Naruhito's marriage proposals and continued studying at Oxford, in 1992 the insistence of the now emperor paid off and Masako accepted. His resignation from the diplomatic career, the government's attacks for being too independent and the couple's problems to beget - they finally had their daughter Aiko in 200 - would end up taking Masako.

The enthronement of Naruhito seemed to open a new stage. Masako could since then handle his public role somewhat more, connect with the Japanese population through his own resignations, and rest knowing that Hisahito, teenage son of the Emperor's brother, guarantees the perpetuity of the dynasty. A continuity, however, limited, because if the regulations do not change soon and Hisahito does not have children, it will end it, since the law does not allow women to reign or transmit the lineage to their descendants, the patrimony of men.

From what Naruhito communicated, Masako is still searching for his site. The emperor settled on the issue of his wife's health and also referred to public health, with more than 750 cases of coronaviruses in Japan, including more than 620 from a cruise. “I hope that infections can stop as soon as possible,” he said, while asking for the recovery of patients and thanking the work of medical staff.

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2020-02-25

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