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The wife of the heir to the Japanese throne marks her 48th birthday today. Crown Princess Masako has been seen little over the years due to a stress induced mental illness.
 Click here to see photos of Masako and family But this year, she often accompanied husband Crown Prince Naruhito to the areas hit hard by the March earthquake-tsunami and also meet with evacuees. Many wondered if this was the rebirth of Masako.
Yes, says the medical team helping her with her recovery, but not so much.
The doctors said it was “ill-minded” for the media to say the Crown Princess had completely healed.
“We cannot expect a quick recovery as far as the situation is not improved,” they said.
For nearly nine years, Masako has nearly dropped out of public life altogether because of her problems. She has been taking medication and speaks to counselors.
As part of her birthday, she released a statement where she talked about the March disaster.
“I shall deeply bear in my mind feelings of people in the disaster-hit areas and continue to watch over the path to their recovery,” the Crown Princess said, adding that the disaster was “too shocking to put into words”.
Masako also talked about her only child, Princess Aiko, who turned 10 last week. “The issue of Aiko’s school life has taken up a large part of my daily life this year.”
Since last year, Aiko has been accompanied by her mother to Gakushuin school, where she experienced anxiety caused by rowdy schoolboys. But things are getting better for her. “[T]hings seem to be moving in a positive direction,” her mother said.
Source: Kyodo
 Click here to see more photos. During the weekend, Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako went to Iwanuma in Miyagi prefecture to see close-up the damage done as a result of March’s tsunami after the 9.0 earthquake that struck the country.
Since the devastation, the couple have been visiting evacuees from the area at evacuation sites in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. This was the first time they have gone to the places where many lost their lives or their homes.
They met with Iwanuma mayor Tsneaki Iguchi who informed the royals about the damage. At one point, Naruhito and Masako bowed during their tour, as if they had prayed for those who lost their lives.
There was some concern whether the Crown Princess would accompany the heir to Iwanuma because she has been attending school with the couple’s daughter, Princess Aiko. Aiko has been experiencing anxiety due to bullying last year and Masako has been going to her daughter’s classes since then.
Apparently, Masako was able to go to Iwanuma because Aiko was off from school.
Source: Reuters, TV-Asahi
Like the Emperor and Empress last week, Japan’s Crown Princely couple met with the evacuees of last month’s earthquake and tsunami at a Ajinomoto stadium-turned-shelter in western Tokyo.
Both Naruhito and Masako – in a rare public appearance – sat with about 130 evacuees on the floor, listened to their stories and gave words of encouragement.
One evacuee thanked them for their sympathy, according to the NHK. Another woman said appreciates attempts by the Imperial family, including the Emperor and Empress, to curb their power consumption to support quake survivors.
Most of the evacuees Naruhito and Masako met with were from Iwaki City and other municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture.
Sources: Reuters, Business Standard
As the wedding of the year draws closer, more information is coming out about the nuptials between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Most especially, information about who is invited is being revealed with some surprising news.
 Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images First off, Denmark’s Crown Princely couple are not invited. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will be staying at home April 29th while Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik will go. This may be because the Queen is good friends with Queen Elizabeth II, William’s grandmother.
“There will be two Danish representatives, but the English monarchy has always been a bit special when it comes to who gets invited and who is not invited,” Danish royal expert Lars Sorensen said.
Also receiving invitations are neighbors from Catherine’s hometown of Bucklebury. Indian-born Chan Shingadia and wife Hash, who run the convenience store in which Catherine would stop by whenever she was in town. Also going to her wedding is Ms. Middleton’s family’s local butcher Martin Fidler and the village postman Ryan Naylor.
Additionally, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathison have been invited. This may be a surprise because Gillard has said she would like to see the monarchy be done away in Australia once Queen Elizabeth passes away.
Another surprise possibility is who might be representing Japan for the wedding. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are invited, but it is widely rumored that Crown Prince Naruhito will go, along with wife Crown Princess Masako. Masako has not traveled abroad in many years due to her stress-induced illness. In fact, the last royal wedding she attended was Belgian Crown Prince Philippe’s 1999 wedding. If Masako does go, it would be an excitement for royal fans everywhere.
Sources: Herald Sun, Huffington Post
On Sunday, the Japanese Imperial family gathered on the balcony of the palace to wave to well-wishers waiting to hear Emperor Akihito’s New Year’s speech.
 REUTERS/Issei Kato “At the start of this year, I wish for peace and tranquility of the world and happiness of the people,” Akihito said into the microphone as he stood behind a bullet-proof glass covering the balcony. “I wish that this year will be a good year, even slightly, for each of you.”
One day before, on New Year’s Day, the Imperial Household Agency released a statement from the Emperor, where he looked back in 2010 and looked to 2011.
“It is my hope that the New Year will be a good year for the people of Japan and the people of the world,” he said.
The Emperor expressed sympathy for those who suffered from the summer heat and the continuous economic troubles.
“I hope that people will cherish their families and community ties and support one another to overcome these challenges they are facing. I also hope that they will work together with the people of the world and do their utmost in pursuit of peace and stability.”
The Imperial Household Agency also released a few “waka” poems written by both Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The poems talked about the Emperor climbing Mount Sekison with Prince Akishino and his family, and seeing the Daigoku-den, the former Imperial Audience Hall, when he attended a Commemorative Ceremony for the 1,300th anniversary of the capital relocation to Nara Heijo-kyo in October.
Sources: AFP, Zee News
The Emperor of Japan celebrated his 77th birthday Thursday, and with that came thoughts of his age and how it affects him.
In a press conference, Emperor Akihito discussed this issue as well as others when it comes to aging.
 REUTERS/Issei Kato “I have become somewhat hard of hearing, so when I receive people,” he said. “I ask those around me to tell this to them and to ask them to try to talk to me in a louder voice. When watching the news and other programs on television, I can understand what the announcers are saying but when it comes to listening to the other people’s conversations on TV, I find myself often relying on subtitles.”
He even pointed out that during a summer vacation with his son, Prince Akishino, and eldest granddaughter Princess Mako, Akihito needed their help while climbing Mount Sekison in Nagano Prefecture – something that has never happened before.
The Emperor also talked about Japan’s 230,000 missing centenarians. “It has now become evident that, among those elderly who were thought to be well and sound, there are some whose fate and whereabouts are unknown, which is most regrettable.”
“It is my sincere hope that there will be further understanding of the needs of the elderly and that more and more attention will be paid to make buildings and towns better equipped to serve the needs of the elderly.”
Akihito then went on to discuss his family and his concerns for the Crown Princess Masako and her daughter, Princess Aiko. Aiko made headlines this year when she skipped school because of anxiety from bullies. As for her mother, Masako continues to suffer from a stress related mental illness.
“It is my hope that she will strive first and foremost to regain her health.”
On Thursday, Masako did make an appearance with her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito, her in-laws, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and of course, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, on the balcony of the Imperial Palace. Everyone waved to the hundreds of well wishers congratulating the Emperor on his birthday.
Source: Mainichi Daily News, Bernama
To mark her 47th birthday Tuesday, Japan’s Crown Princess Masako released a statement where she discussed her only child, Princess Aiko, and how well the 9 year-old is doing in school.
 AP Photo/Imperial Household Agency of Japan “Her hours in school are getting longer, and I am relieved to see her enjoy spending time together with her friends,” Masako said.
Earlier this year, Aiko missed several school days because of “rough behavior” from several of the boys in her grade at Gakushuin school in Tokyo.
“I hope we can continue to move forward step by step while consulting carefully with the teachers at school,” the Crown Princess said, refering to husband Crown Prince Naruhito.
Masako did mention her concern about Aiko’s anxiety levels at such a young age.
“While discussing with the Crown Prince, I myself have always thought about what I can do for Aiko as her parent to help her feel secure about her school life like she used to.”
Masako would understand her daughter’s mental plight. She has been suffering from a stress induced mental disorder for nearly 10 years, which has taken the Crown Princess out of official duties almost entirely. Lately, she has been focusing on Aiko, accompanying her to school to ease her daughter’s anxiety. According to doctors, Masako’s health remains the same as it was in February.
Back then, it was described that the Crown Princess was still unstable but was making some recovery.
Some in Japan are calling for a press conference where doctors would talk about Masako’s mental health in-depth.
Source: Japan Times, Mainichi
 AP Photo/Yoshikazu Tsuno, Pool Japanese Princess Aiko was all smiles as she danced away during her primary school’s annual sports festival. The 8 year old had been experiencing anxiety during most of the year because of bullying by boys at Gakushuin. But on Monday, that seemed far from Aiko’s mind.
Her parents, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako attended the festival. Both parents also seemed delighted to see their daughter enjoying herself. Even Naruhito snapped away with his large camera.
Besides taking part in a dance routine, Aiko took part in a relay race.
Click here to check out a video from Japanese television.
Japan’s Crown Princess Masako made her first public engagement since January on Friday. Masako was by her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito’s side during a Tokyo cultural function.
 Mainichi The imperial couple were attended the 65th National Arts Festival. They arrived at Chiyoda Ward and watched traditional dances by Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese performers.
The Princess smiled and seemed relaxed as she acknowledged the audience and observed the dances.
This was the first time she attended an event outside the Palace since January. Her last official engagement was when she she went to a conference at Tokyo’s United Nations University.
Masako has been suffering from a stress induced mental illness for nearly a decade. Crown Prince Naruhito has been very supportive of his wife. Two years ago, he asked the media to stop speculating over her condition.
Source: Mainichi
On Tuesday, Japanese royals celebrated the life of Emperor Akihito’s mother, the late Empress Nagako, or Kojun as she is posthumously known.
 Sankei A concert was held for her at Toukagakudo in which the Emperor, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and surprisingly Crown Princess Masako. This was one of the rare public appearances Masako has made this year.
The concert performed songs chosen by Akihito and Michiko. It featured songs composed by Dvorak, and the song “Spring Sea” by Michio Miyagi Hogaku.
Afterward, all 130 invited guests went to a tea party. Everyone, except the Crown Princess. She has been suffering from a stress related illness for several years.
Empress Kojun was the wife of the late Emperor Hirohito, and was Japan’s longest serving consort. She died in June 2000.
Sources: Nikkei, Wikipedia
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