Princess Masako and book-babbling
I bought Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne a few weeks ago, and just finished it. I found it interesting, but terribly sad. Looking at others' reviews of the book there apparently isn't much new that hasn't been speculated on before, but I enjoyed it as I knew nothing about Masako other than that she hasn't had a son.
(Disclaimer: Writing intellectual stuff is intimidating. I never feel like I think things through enough or can make them interesting. D= Oh well. Trying!)
I was surprised at just how rigid and extremely traditionally-bound the Imperial Family still is. According to the book, even the Emperor and his son cannot see each other without setting up an appointment through the Kunaicho (palace officials), let alone Masako seeing her own family. She attended Harvard and Oxford, spoke 6 languages, and was a determined career woman who wanted to devote herself to public service and become a diplomat. Instead, she can no longer own a passport, credit card, health insurance, or car- not that she would be able to use them, as royals can't even visit a bookstore; instead a deputy is sent out to by whatever they want. She cannot speak in public without staying firmly to a bland, scripted, and very carefully non-controversal spiel. She can't travel freely, whether to foreign countries as she is used to or just in Tokyo. The Kunaicho determine whether or not they wish to grant a request to buy a new dress, get a haircut, or meet a friend.
And Masako had been pressured into marrying the prince for the good of her country, so the imperial line could continue. Some reviewers were a bit dismissive of her. "I do feel the title of the book is misleading. Princess Masako is overly portrayed as a victim, with the Imperial Household Agency cast as the aggressor. The Chrysanthemum Throne (the Imperial Household Agency) did not force Masako Owada at gunpoint to marry the Crown Prince. While I do not wish Princess Masako any ill will, the decision to completely abandon any personal plans she may have had for herself for the rest of her life (and that is what one must do if they wish to marry into the Imperial Family) was one that she herself arrived at.... For a woman as highly intelligent and well-educated as she is, I absolutely cannot believe that she would have been as naive or uninformed as to believe that she could single-handedly reverse over a millenia of tradition and somehow create a diplomatic role for herself that resembled in any way, shape or form one that she may have attained had she not married the Crown Prince and remained a career woman. If she truly did believe she could, perhaps she was a little too full of herself. As painful as the reality of her current existence may be, it is a choice she herself made. In other words, she has made her own bed, so now she must lie in it."
From what I've read, I think the intense pressure of Japanese society to conform for the good of the group, and for women to not be career-minded but instead traditional housewives, has been underrated. Masako's father was against her marrying the prince originally; the government pressured him into agreeing to it, for the sake of the monarchy. Masako, even though she lived much of her early life outside of Japan, had been brought up by her very strict and traditional Japanese parents, to believe in the importance of the group over the individual. A high school friend of Masako's said she was "brought up to value status, not happiness." The importance of conformity in Japan is huge, probably difficult for us to understand (despite remembering middle and high school!). The desperate state the imperial line was in was probably not something Masako could ignore.
And, of course, a single woman who is determined to work would not have a lot of support in Japan, "Christmas cake" that she is. With Naruhito so determined to marry her, I think it's a bit rough to entirely condemn her for acquiescing.
It's terrible how depression is looked down on so much as well, and people are getting more spiteful over the rough time she's having. Her mother-in-law, also a commoner who wedded the emperor, suffered from similar problems, except she lost the ability to speak for five months due to stress. It's not surprising they've suffered so much in such stuffy, confined, and ridiculously outdated roles.
And despite Japan being a democracy, the book has been discouraged from being published in Japan...
Although I can't say how brilliant and entirely accurate the book is (I've heard there were a lot of errors, such as mix-ups with the names of emperors and dates, that the author dismissed as minor mistakes), it was still a good read, especially if you don't know much about the situation to begin with. (Another book I just finished reading that I enjoyed and recommend to those Japanese-geeks on my FL: Japanland, by Karin Muller. It's about a woman who travels around Japan, and covers a broad range of experiences. Quite funny and interesting).
Stuff like this sometimes makes me wonder whether I've picked the right interest and major... :p But hey, it's interesting.
In yet more Japan-related news, went back to my high school today to be a guest speaker for three East-West classes. Had to wake up at 6:30 (!!) despite falling asleep around 5:45 after one of my insomniac nights. Oy ve. It went all right though; just taught some basic phrases and facts about the Japanese language, and had them play a game, same as I did last year for my senior project. Had to be there all day though, feh! It was nice to catch up with some of the teachers and friends though. :)
(Disclaimer: Writing intellectual stuff is intimidating. I never feel like I think things through enough or can make them interesting. D= Oh well. Trying!)
I was surprised at just how rigid and extremely traditionally-bound the Imperial Family still is. According to the book, even the Emperor and his son cannot see each other without setting up an appointment through the Kunaicho (palace officials), let alone Masako seeing her own family. She attended Harvard and Oxford, spoke 6 languages, and was a determined career woman who wanted to devote herself to public service and become a diplomat. Instead, she can no longer own a passport, credit card, health insurance, or car- not that she would be able to use them, as royals can't even visit a bookstore; instead a deputy is sent out to by whatever they want. She cannot speak in public without staying firmly to a bland, scripted, and very carefully non-controversal spiel. She can't travel freely, whether to foreign countries as she is used to or just in Tokyo. The Kunaicho determine whether or not they wish to grant a request to buy a new dress, get a haircut, or meet a friend.
And Masako had been pressured into marrying the prince for the good of her country, so the imperial line could continue. Some reviewers were a bit dismissive of her. "I do feel the title of the book is misleading. Princess Masako is overly portrayed as a victim, with the Imperial Household Agency cast as the aggressor. The Chrysanthemum Throne (the Imperial Household Agency) did not force Masako Owada at gunpoint to marry the Crown Prince. While I do not wish Princess Masako any ill will, the decision to completely abandon any personal plans she may have had for herself for the rest of her life (and that is what one must do if they wish to marry into the Imperial Family) was one that she herself arrived at.... For a woman as highly intelligent and well-educated as she is, I absolutely cannot believe that she would have been as naive or uninformed as to believe that she could single-handedly reverse over a millenia of tradition and somehow create a diplomatic role for herself that resembled in any way, shape or form one that she may have attained had she not married the Crown Prince and remained a career woman. If she truly did believe she could, perhaps she was a little too full of herself. As painful as the reality of her current existence may be, it is a choice she herself made. In other words, she has made her own bed, so now she must lie in it."
From what I've read, I think the intense pressure of Japanese society to conform for the good of the group, and for women to not be career-minded but instead traditional housewives, has been underrated. Masako's father was against her marrying the prince originally; the government pressured him into agreeing to it, for the sake of the monarchy. Masako, even though she lived much of her early life outside of Japan, had been brought up by her very strict and traditional Japanese parents, to believe in the importance of the group over the individual. A high school friend of Masako's said she was "brought up to value status, not happiness." The importance of conformity in Japan is huge, probably difficult for us to understand (despite remembering middle and high school!). The desperate state the imperial line was in was probably not something Masako could ignore.
And, of course, a single woman who is determined to work would not have a lot of support in Japan, "Christmas cake" that she is. With Naruhito so determined to marry her, I think it's a bit rough to entirely condemn her for acquiescing.
It's terrible how depression is looked down on so much as well, and people are getting more spiteful over the rough time she's having. Her mother-in-law, also a commoner who wedded the emperor, suffered from similar problems, except she lost the ability to speak for five months due to stress. It's not surprising they've suffered so much in such stuffy, confined, and ridiculously outdated roles.
And despite Japan being a democracy, the book has been discouraged from being published in Japan...
Although I can't say how brilliant and entirely accurate the book is (I've heard there were a lot of errors, such as mix-ups with the names of emperors and dates, that the author dismissed as minor mistakes), it was still a good read, especially if you don't know much about the situation to begin with. (Another book I just finished reading that I enjoyed and recommend to those Japanese-geeks on my FL: Japanland, by Karin Muller. It's about a woman who travels around Japan, and covers a broad range of experiences. Quite funny and interesting).
Stuff like this sometimes makes me wonder whether I've picked the right interest and major... :p But hey, it's interesting.
In yet more Japan-related news, went back to my high school today to be a guest speaker for three East-West classes. Had to wake up at 6:30 (!!) despite falling asleep around 5:45 after one of my insomniac nights. Oy ve. It went all right though; just taught some basic phrases and facts about the Japanese language, and had them play a game, same as I did last year for my senior project. Had to be there all day though, feh! It was nice to catch up with some of the teachers and friends though. :)