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Saturday December 9, 4:10 AMCrown Princess Masako turns 43, taking pleasure in daughter's life(Kyodo) _ Crown Princess Masako, wife of Crown Prince Naruhito -- Emperor Akihito's eldest son -- marked her 43rd birthday on Saturday and said in a statement that it has been a "pleasure" to be involved in the life of their 5-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, now a kindergartener."It is very meaningful for her health that Crown Princess Masako has engaged in child-rearing activities," the Imperial Household Agency said, quoting a team of doctors looking after the crown princess who is suffering from a stress-induced illness. The crown princess, who began refraining from most of her official duties in December 2003 to focus on her recovery, has gradually resumed them, traveling to Nara Prefecture in October for her first official duty in nearly three years involving an overnight stay. The team of doctors, led by psychiatrist Yutaka Ono, a professor at Keio University, said that activities like the trip to Nara are "meaningful for her treatment," but warned that it would take more time for her recovery as she sometimes "feels more tired than she thought she would and cannot act as easily as she wants to," according to the agency. Crown Princess Masako, who was diagnosed in July 2004 with an adjustment disorder, continues to take medication as part of her treatment, the Board of Crown Prince Naruhito's Household said. In the statement issued ahead of her birthday, Crown Princess Masako said the 25 lectures she attended at the United Nations University in Tokyo since autumn 2005 provided "a meaningful opportunity to think over issues facing our society." The crown princess, who has visited children's facilities during the past year, added, "I feel it is important for us adults to join together so that children have hope for a bright future." Looking back on her two-week trip to the Netherlands in August, on which she was accompanied by her 46-year-old husband and her daughter, Crown Princess Masako said she was able to spend "a precious time in a relaxed manner." The trip generated considerable interest both at home and abroad as no member of the imperial family has holidayed overseas for recuperation. Speculation has been rife that the Harvard-educated former diplomat is suffering from stress due to unrelenting pressure to produce a male heir for the Chrysanthemum Throne, and there was even a move by the government to change the male-only succession law to allow her daughter to succeed her husband, which would have eased the burden on the crown princess. In September, however, her sister-in-law Princess Kiko, wife of Prince Akishino, gave birth to Prince Hisahito, providing the world's oldest hereditary monarchy with its first heir in 41 years. The move to revise the law subsequently lost its drive. |
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