Tuesday 21 December 2004

Masako - Submission of a Princess

The imperial jailers, also known as the Imperial Household Agency (“IHA”), seem to have won. They have succeeded not only in breaking Crown Princess Masako, but in making her submit to their dictates. Last week, she finally agreed to resume her royal obligations, even though she's clearly far from well and the doctors have expressed concerns over her condition.

Two events led to the IHA’s victory. The first event was the press release last October on the occasion of Empress Michiko’s 70th birthday. The second was a press conference given by Prince Akishino, the Crown Prince’s younger brother, on his birthday a few weeks ago.

These events may seem minor in and of themselves but they are significant when seen in the context of the events involving the IHA and Crown Princess Masako, the nature of the media in Japan, the traditional behavior of the Imperial Family, and the murky, oblique, coded language of the imperial court.

The Empress' Comments

In October, in a statement released by the IHA to the press, the Empress said:

During all the years since [my wedding day] the sense of heavy responsibility has stayed with me all the time that I should not disgrace the imperial family, with its long history, who accepted me, an ordinary citizen, as crown princess. […]

At the same time, the thought has also stayed with me continually that I should not betray the expectations of the many people who saw me off to a new journey on that same day with much blessing, and stain the history of the common people out of whom I came.

Just as important as the barely-veiled rebuke to Masako in the preceding paragraph was the Empress’ explicit support for the IHA. The latter was evident when she said, “The Imperial Household Agency has many issues that require continued efforts for improvement, but I believe it is not a place that should be censured as it is now.”

The Empress’ comments were unusual because she rarely speaks about things of major significance, let alone anything involving controversy. And the role of the IHA in Princess Masako’s collapse was certainly controversial after the Crown Prince’s attack on them in May. The Empress’ comments were even more unusual given that Michiko herself had suffered a nervous breakdown at the hands of the IHA and the previous Empress.

However, the most unusual thing about the Empress’ remarks is that the Imperial Family never (ever) publicly criticise each other.  Things in Japan are much, much more rigid than in the UK, The Netherlands or Norway. In each of those countries, some royals have commented negatively on another member of their family.  In Japan, that’s simply unheard of, particularly in a female royal. Furthermore, there is the unspoken cultural and societal rule that private, internal or family matters should not be discussed in public.

Furthermore, the IHA strictly circumscribes all public utterances by members of the Imperial Family. In their eyes, the sorts of public statements made by British royals “on such things as the environment, architecture and society- as well as off-the-cuff comments are looked upon with incredulity by the Japanese public, horror by the court, and blank disbelief by the Gaimusho [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs].” Raymond Lamont-Brown, “Japan's Imperial Family: Its Role And Meaning In Modern Japan - Critical Essay,” Contemporary Review, (Sept.1999) at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1604_275/ai_56750238/pg_2

The Empress’ remarks have been read by some to show support and sympathy for the Crown Princess. I find that interpretation hard to accept. The battle lines between the IHA and Masako have been firmly drawn, and any support for the IHA is necessarily criticism of Masako, especially when combined with her other comments. The Empress’ statements on the “betrayal” of the people’s expectations is very harsh and blunt, even by Western standards, let alone the muted, coded, understatement of the Japanese. Personally, I wonder if the statement was written, in large part, by the IHA. For reasons that I’ll explain later, there is ample reason to suspect their hand behind it.

Prince Akishino's Comments

If there was any possibility of interpreting the Empress’ remarks in a kindly light, there was absolutely no chance of doing so when it came to Prince Akishino’s statements. The Prince used a rare press conference for his 39^th birthday to criticize his older brother about his behavior back in May when he publicly blamed the IHA for Masako’s condition. Referring to Naruhito’s comments, the Prince said:

I myself was surprised to no small extent, and I heard the Emperor was also very surprised. […] I think he should only have spoken after talking to the Emperor about what he planned to say. I think it is regrettable.

Akishino could have made his statements in private but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to go against some extremely serious, unwritten rules about how the royals may act, and made the rift public.  In the case of the Crown Prince's outburst, he was only trying to defend his wife against outsiders but here, Prince Akishino spoke out against a family member and with unmistakable bluntness.

The enormity of such overt criticism cannot be stressed enough. And even apart from the point that the Japanese royals rarely, if ever, engaged in explicit criticism, there is the also a cultural component. In many Asian countries, including Japan, one does not publicly criticise one’s elders, even if they are siblings. That rule certainly applies when one’s elder sibling is heir to the longest family dynasty in the world.

One veteran journalist on royal matters, Toshiaki Kawahara, has watched the palace for decades and explained his disbelief as follows:

“I cannot recall examples of criticism within the royal family after the war," Kawahara said, referring to World War II, which marked the start of a ceremonial role for the emperor.

“I was surprised especially because the younger brother criticized the elder brother at a press conference. […] Considering Prince Akishino must have opportunities to say the same thing directly to the crown prince, I think he lacked consideration a little bit,” Kawahara said

“Japan’s Crown Prince under unprecedented public criticism from brother,” (December 1, 2004)(hereinafter “Unprecedented public criticism”), Channel News Asia, at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/119952/1/.html

Lacked “consideration”? Well, that’s certainly one way of putting it.

The foreign press, which lacks such traditional Japanese understatement, was much more forthright in its assessment of the situation. The London Times, for example, astutely noted that it was an “extraordinary spat” where the Crown Prince had drawn the “fire of his normally lower-profile brother.” Leo Lewis, “Royal spat is all in the line of duty,” (December 1, 2004), The London Times, at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1382235,00.html. Other papers saw it in the same light.

In all cases, observers attuned to the subtleties of royal speeches interpreted “the remarks as both a rebuke and a glimpse of serious strife at the heart of the world’s oldest monarchy.” Id.  They agreed that it was a significant development for the mild-mannered Prince Akishino, who normally just focuses on sports like catching catfish or playing tennis, to join the spiraling feud over Princess Masako and the IHA. Id. See also, “Unprecedented public criticism,” supra.

The IHA & the Media Context

There is a hidden context to the Empress and Prince’s remarks which cannot be seen without first understanding the media in Japan and the role of the IHA. The common thread and key point is that both royals spoke out through IHA-controlled press events: the Empress in a statement released to the press, and Prince Akishino in a press conference.

What a lot of people don't know is how these press conferences work. The IHA stage-manages all purported “press conferences” down to the smallest detail: A select group of hand-selected, pliant (and therefore favoured) reporters are invited by the IHA, given about 7 pages of protocol rules ahead of time which go so far as to list the outfits to be worn by camera men behind the scenes, and asked to submit questions ahead of time. The questions are screened ahead of time and approved or rejected based on their content. See, James Brooks, “No Nosy Questions, if you please. We’re Japanese,” (June 21, 2001) The New York Times, at http://www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm/no_nosy_questions_if_you_please.htm

The IHA then presumably gives approved answers to the royal in question to use as his “reply” during the conference; follow-up questions are unofficially prohibited under threat of future exclusion from royal events; and an informal rule frowns upon a female royal speaking half as long as her husband. Id.

The whole event is choreographed down to the smallest detail, and that includes what the royal family member will say. It's so scripted that spontaneous utterances by a royal are shocking, particularly if they reveal a personal opinion and not the IHA party line. It’s one of the many reasons why the Crown Prince’s statements last May attacking the IHA caused such shock. It’s the same reason why the Emperor caused incredible consternation a few months ago when, at a press conference, he criticised the growing nationalism in Japan. The IHA had to scramble after the fact to explain it all away.  It was very clear that the Emperor’s remarks were not planned or pre-approved by them. Not one whit.

The IHA exercises the same degree of control over press releases, such as the one issued by the Empress on the occasion of her birthday.  And, as the Agency in charge of issuing such press releases, there is an even greater likelihood that the statements will say what they want it to say.

Another factor which comes into play is the media’s own willingness to censor itself when it comes to the Imperial Family. Even when a member of the imperial family says something newsworthy, the Japanese media may choose not to report it. For example, in December 2001, the Emperor gave a news conference for his birthday and said he felt a close “kinship” with Korea, as one of his eighth-century ancestors was descended from Korean immigrants.  His statements were a shocking blow to the traditional view of Japan’s “pure” blood and imperial line, as well as to the historic view of their neighbor. In Korea it was front-page news, but there was hardly a peep about it in much of the Japanese press. See, Shane Green, “Chrysanthemum Throne a closely guarded secret,” (December 7, 2002), The Sidney Morning Herald, at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/06/1038950196395.html?oneclick=true

This self-censorship also stems from the likely political reaction to criticism of the Imperial Family. As my series on the IHA explained, Japan has an extremely powerful, somewhat sinister, right-wing. It still has the potential to react with fury to perceived attacks. In 1988, the mayor of Nagasaki remarked that the dying Emperor Hirohito was responsible for Japan's disastrous role in World War II. Two years later, he was shot by a member of a right-wing group and barely survived. Editors of the major papers are not only generally conservative, but they also remember such incidents and fear the right-wing. David McNeill, “Trouble at the Top,” FCCJ (Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan), at http://www.fccj.or.jp/modules/wfsection/article.php?category=2&start=&articleid=558&start=30

Unfortunately, self-censorship isn’t limited solely to critical or controversial stories involving the royals. When Crown Prince Naruhito got engaged to Masako, the Japanese press sat on the news for months until the foreign press – specifically The Washington Post – broke the story. Id. It was the London Independent which suggested that Princess Aiko was the product of in-vitro fertilization, even though a Japanese mud-raking tabloid had first scooped the story, only to be deliberately ignored by the rest of the country’s media.

How does all this relate to the recent comments by Empress Michiko and Prince Akishino? Quite simply, the Japanese media only carries stories about the royals which the IHA has approved and vetted, or which the foreign press has already broken (and even then, they mute the tone of the commentary when it may seem to criticize the royals). 

Here, the royals both spoke out in one of the IHA's controlled forums. The Prince attacked his brother during one of the IHA’s highly coordinated, regimented, scripted press conferences; the Empress rebuked Masako through a statement released by the IHA to its handpicked kisha or press club. Since the IHA reviews all statements issued to the press, they had to know what she would say. And, even then, the press would not have carried the story unless it had the implicit support and backing of the IHA. Similarly, the press would have sat on the story of Prince Akishino’s blunt attack on his brother if the IHA had signaled – in even the most subtle of ways – that it didn’t approve. Since the story was published, the IHA obviously wanted it to get out.

The reason is that, in each instance, the royals made comments that either directly or indirectly supported the IHA. And, in each instance, they criticised one side or another in the May controversy when Naruhito spoke out in defense of Masako and against the IHA. The Empress took on Masako, while Akishino took on his brother.

Coincidence? Given the nature of the press as outlined above, I don’t think so.  Clearly the IHA is getting its revenge. I suspect they probably bided their time until the furor over the May conference died down, before waiting to reassert their power and control.  The fact that members of the Imperial Family went along with their agenda and issued some surprising public criticism is sad, particularly when you consider Empress Michiko’s own experiences at the hands of the IHA. It certainly shows how isolated the princely couple has become, even within the Imperial Family itself. Given how isolated their life was to begin with, one can only have sympathy for the Crown Prince and Princess.

The timing of the IHA’s retaliation may have something to do with the public’s slowly shifting perceptions of Masako. While the majority of the Japanese people still support Masako and have sympathy for her, a small but growing number are getting a bit irritated. “[A]s Masako's battle with depression continues, some Japanese are starting to wonder whether she just needs to get over it.” Andra Varin, “Modern Women vs. Imperial Tradition in Japan,” ABC News, (November 30, 2004) at http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=265090&page=1  

One Japanese expert, Kenneth Ruoff, explains the situation as follows:

It's very complicated… Most of the people in the public have sympathy for her. On the other hand, I have talked to people that said, Masako comes out and complains she hasn't been able to go abroad. … People were saying that there are a lot of people in Japan who have suffered who could use attention.

Andra Varin, “Modern Women,” supra.

Members of the imperial family are expected to live very restricted lives and set an example for the nation. Id. Ruoff says that many Japanese wonder why Masako should be an exception: “I've had people I respect say that she's a terrible wife … for her to come out and talk about me, me, me is bad for the throne that tries to cultivate public support.” Id.

Did the IHA take advantage of the slowly growing resentment against Crown Princess Masako, and the royal birthdays, to send a signal to her? Or was there something else going on behind the scenes?

An Heir from Anywhere?

You have to wonder if there is more going on than just the IHA getting its revenge and reasserting its power. If you wanted to be generous, you could explain away the Empress’ comments by pointing to the fact that she is of a different generation, one where women played traditional roles and royal consorts dutifully obeyed centuries-old rules. But Prince Akishino? It’s much harder to explain away his unprecedented public attack on his older brother. He’s not a female, he’s not from another generation, and he has one of the lowest public profiles of all the royals.

Perhaps the reason for his unexpected outburst lies in the IHA’s old plans for him. In December 2003, the head of the IHA, Toshio Yuasa, publicly demanded that Prince Akishino have more children, in hopes that he and his wife would have a boy. It’s hard to convey the magnitude of this demand and what it means within the context of the IHA's usual behavior, and its rules regarding comments on the Imperial Family.

At the time of the order, the Prince said nothing, which led many observers to think he’d dismissed it as impudent meddling by the IHA. Now, however, it’s hard not to wonder if the Prince and his wife, Kiko, tried to comply with the IHA’s order.  Does his increased visibility stem from a secret pregnancy which will only be announced when the first trimester – with all the usual risk of a miscarriage – has passed?  Is the IHA plotting a sort of subtle, quiet coup with Prince Akishino as its focus? Does all this explain why the government vehemently – almost too vehemently – denied all reports of a secret plan to look at the succession rules and change them? 

I certainly don’t have the answers. But one thing is certain: the government’s denial was so fierce that it was either a case of “methinks the lady doth protest too much,” or else the government was trying to reassure the powerful right-wing elite that there was no cause for concern.  After all, they still have a little time before succumbing to a constitutional change in the rules of succession, since there is a lull in the Japanese political calendar and there will be no national polls until 2007.  

Time, delay and stall tactics could have another goal in mind. Princess Sayako is now engaged. If she has a boy, some royal watchers have suggested the possibility of the child being adopted by the Crown Prince so that he may have a male heir and the succession rules don’t have to be changed. Personally, I think this idea is farfetched and extremely unlikely. I cannot see a mother in today’s world voluntarily giving up her baby to someone else just to satisfy some archaic succession rules. By the same token, I can’t imagine the Crown Prince wanting someone else’s child to replace his own.

There is a downside to delaying a constitutional change for too long. Princess Aiko needs to undergo rigorous training and education if she is to be an Empress in her own right. That education should begin immediately, even though she just turned three. Delaying the outcome of her legal status could have a detrimental impact upon her tutelage, at least in the eyes of the IHA which mandates a heavy curriculum focusing as much as traditional, imperial subjects as it does ordinary ones.

It all comes back to Prince Akishino. If his wife is pregnant, it’s an instant solution to the problem; and the topic of constitutional reform can be put off for another few generations. For a government which refuses to change and doesn't want to deal with the financial implications of increasing the number of legitimate heirs by including women, the Akishino solution is ideal. In addition, if they don’t get pregnant soon, then there is still time to change the Constitution without damaging Princess Aiko’s education too much.

Time will tell if there is a power play going on behind the scenes or what the Japanese government is planning on doing with regard to the succession issue. In the meantime, the IHA has its victory.

Crown Princess Masako has essentially surrendered under the twin hammer blows of royal criticism, not to mention the IHA’s incessant backstage manipulation and pressure. Last week, on her 41^st birthday, she stated her intention to take up her public duties once more. Although she won’t return to public life instantaneously, the Princess said she would “make every effort to recover as soon as possible.” The statement was made in a press release. It was issued by the IHA and undoubtedly vetted, if not written, by them. And it was made almost one week to the day after Prince Akishino’s attack…

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