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Crown weighs heavy on Japan's royals

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published March 13, 2007

TOKYO - Four years after Crown Princess Masako dropped most of her official duties to recover from what officials say is a form of depression brought about by the pressures of adjusting to life in the palace, Empress Michiko is now suffering from a wide array of symptoms stemming from severe stress.

Officials announced last week that Michiko, 72, is canceling her schedule for the time being to recover from intestinal bleeding, nose bleeds and mouth ulcers.

The empress' illness highlights the pressures and secrecy surrounding Japan's royal family, which has fallen on hard times in recent years because of a succession crisis and, more recently, some bad press.

"It is believed that the empress is suffering from symptoms related to psychological stress," said Ichiro Kanazawa, the palace's chief medical supervisor.

The palace has recently been in an uproar over the publication of a book on the royal family by Australian author Ben Hills. The palace has said the book, Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne, is disrespectful toward the family, and a Japanese publisher announced last month it decided to scrap plans to translate it from English.

Crown Princess Masako, Michiko's daughter-in-law, is also recuperating from stress-induced health problems.

Masako, 43, withdrew from virtually all of her public duties four years ago after being diagnosed with a stress-induced illness called "adjustment disorder." She had been under intense pressure to have a baby boy to succeed Crown Prince Naruhito as the next heir to the throne.

[Last modified March 13, 2007, 02:26:45]