Modern Women vs. Imperial Tradition in Japan

Nov. 30, 2004 — -- A lovely commoner marries the heir to the throne and charms the entire nation. But life in the palace tends to be a lot more restrictive than the new princess imagined. She's having trouble adjusting, and the strain is showing. People are beginning to talk.

It might sound familiar, but it's not the saga of Diana, Princess of Wales. It's the unfolding drama surrounding Masako, crown princess of Japan.

The scandals surrounding Diana's failed marriage to Prince Charles rocked the British monarchy, but they're not likely to be repeated in Japan, since the imperial family is much more reserved than the Windsors.

But Japan does have a twofold princess problem: Masako, who is under so much stress that she has all but retreated from public life, and her daughter, Aiko, whose future remains a question mark as officials puzzle over what to do about the succession.

"It really is a much wider societal question about the changing status of women, which is changing pretty rapidly," said Michael A. Schneider, chairman of the history department and co-director of the Center for Global Studies at Knox College in Illinois. "People look at Masako as someone who could be a sort of symbol of the modern Japanese woman."

The immediate problem: In 11 years of marriage, Masako, the Harvard-educated wife of Crown Prince Naruhito, has borne a daughter, Princess Aiko, who turns 3 on Wednesday — but no son. And as Masako approaches her 41st birthday, it appears less likely that she will have more children.

Japan has had reigning empresses before, but the last one was in the 18th century. Women are currently barred from ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Naruhito has a younger brother, Prince Akishino, but he and his wife have two daughters. And even if you stretch over a few branches on the imperial family tree, all the children are female. So Japan has to consider whether it might be time to change the rules.

Starting Something That Could Get Ugly

The Japanese people aren't against the idea of a princess inheriting. It's the right wing.

"The current prime minister has said he is not opposed to revising the law. For what they're worth, popular opinion polls show most people want a revision to the law," said Schneider. But "I have no doubt that the right wing in Japan will very staunchly oppose the passage of such a law. There could be a real political battle over this and it could be ugly."

What's their hang-up? For one, modern Japan has "zero tradition" of women rulers, said Kenneth Ruoff, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at Portland State University in Oregon.

There is also a belief among traditionalists that the imperial bloodline cannot be continued through a woman, he said. After all, when Japanese princesses marry, they relinquish their titles and their place in the official family.

If a reigning empress were to marry, the Imperial Household Agency would have to change the rule. And other princesses, if no longer excluded from the succession, would no longer expect to give up their status upon marrying, Schneider said. Supporting them, their husbands and children would prove very expensive for the Imperial Household.

Japan's Imperial Household Agency seems to wield a lot more power than the courtiers at Buckingham Palace. It is believed to be the main force putting pressure on Masako to produce an heir.

The main part of a royal wife's job description has always been to provide the proverbial heir and the spare. "Historically, the onus is on her," said Ruoff, author of the book "The People's Emperor: Democracy and the Japanese Monarchy, 1945-1995."

Shifting Public Sympathies

Masako gave up a promising career as a diplomat to marry Naruhito, and she has expressed the desire to travel and use her diplomatic skills. But as far as the Imperial Household is concerned, Masako shouldn't be hankering to go abroad until she's fulfilled her most important function. "As far as they're concerned, her job is to produce an heir," said Ruoff.

Masako's public appearances became increasingly rare, and palace officials finally disclosed that she was struggling with a stress-induced illness, or an "adjustment disorder."

"The current buzz about Masako is that she is very much stressed out that she hasn't been able to modernize the royal family," said Schneider. "I wonder if she really understood what the pressures would be."

Naruhito has come to his wife's defense, lashing out during a news conference at the way she has been treated.

"On the whole, the crown prince and princess have won in the court of public opinion," Ruoff said. "The crown prince gained huge support from women by coming out in support of his wife. He basically said, 'The institution be damned, my wife is more important.' "

But as Masako's battle with depression continues, some Japanese are starting to wonder whether she just needs to get over it.

"It's very complicated," said Ruoff. "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."

Members of the imperial family are expected to live very restricted lives and set an example for the nation, said Ruoff. Some people are wondering 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."

The Question Remains

Whether or not Masako is able to return to public life any time soon, her position will improve, said Schneider. As she grows older, the childbearing controversy will end. Her husband will eventually succeed to the throne, and as empress, she will wield more influence. "I think there's still a lot of room for her to maneuver."

But the question of the succession still lingers.

Changing the law would be a relatively easy matter, said Ruoff. The rule barring women from the throne is not in the Japanese constitution, but rather in the Imperial Household law. To change it, the Diet, Japan's parliament, would simply have to pass a law.

There is also a move to amend the constitution to include a provision allowing female empresses. But if the constitution is going to be revised, the ruling party may push to abolish the article that prevents Japan from using military force overseas.

"That's opening the can of worms," said Ruoff.