Japan princess misses school for a month for health reasons
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Aug. 11, 2016 photo, Japan’s Princess Aiko, a granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, arrives at the venue for a national ceremony on Mountain Day, in Matsumoto, central Japan. Palace officials said Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 the 14-year-old Princess Aiko has been staying home since Sept. 26, after complaining of stomach problems and dizziness attributed to fatigue from studying for exams and practicing for an athletic event at her junior high school.
TOKYO » A granddaughter of Japan’s Emperor Akihito is not feeling well and has missed school for a month.
Palace officials said Wednesday the 14-year-old Princess Aiko has been staying home since Sept. 26, after complaining of stomach problems and dizziness attributed to fatigue from studying for exams and practicing for an athletic event at her junior high school.
Aiko is the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito, next in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, and his wife Masako, who has been suffering from a stress-related mental condition for more than 10 years.
Officials say Nobutake Odano, the grand master at Naruhito’s palace, told reporters Tuesday that Aiko is recovering but needs more time before returning to school. A palace hospital health check earlier this month found no major problem.
Aiko, known as the princess who rarely smiles, had occasionally missed class while in elementary school. Over the summer, she was seen waving at crowds as she accompanied his parents on hikes and at other public events.
Masako canceled a planned out-of-town official appointment this month due to fatigue and concern for having to take care of her daughter, the palace said.
A Harvard graduate and former diplomat, Masako has had stress-related conditions since soon after giving birth to Aiko, following criticism for not producing a boy.
Concerns about a shortage of male successors have been rekindled after Akihito, 82, conveyed his apparent abdication wish in August, citing his old age and health. Japan’s Imperial House Law does not allow female emperors.
___
Follow Mari Yamaguchi at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi
Find her work also at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mari-yamaguchi
13 responses to “Japan princess misses school for a month for health reasons”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Invite them to chill in Hawaii?…….enroll her in Iolani or do home school?……..the crown is too heavy for this sensitive child.
Yeah but since their law still states that women can’t become emperors, she won’t have to worry about wearing the bigger crown anytime soon.
Much ado over childhood perceived aches and pains that commoners experience. Further an unappreciated female member of the royal family from an unpopular mother as far as the Japanese populace is concerned. Sad, it has to be as it is.
The succession has been resolved with the birth of Prince Hisahito of Akishino (born 6 September 2006). Prince Akishino is the second son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
She’s lucky the law doesn’t allow her to succeed her father. That society is very cruel to female members of the imperial family, and she would have enormous pressure if she ever became empress. I believe the imperial “handlers” told her mother to kill herself after she produced a daughter instead of a son. The best thing this princess can do when she grows up is to walk away, like her Aunt did.
The male determines the baby’s gender so it’s not the female’s fault for not producing a son.
The IHA will NEVER believe that.
Rich in all the traditions but poor in spirit – leave everything for the next male in line and live a life of a commoner. Peace and happiness are found in the ways of an average Japanese citizen whom has discovered simplicity is richer than material wealth of palace traditions. Our hearts and prayers goes out to this first born family of the Emperor !
Maybe Drumpf can move to Japan and run for Emperor of Japan after the election. He could “Make Japan Great Again”! He has three sons who would be in line for succession.
As hilarious as the idea is, you might be onto something brilliant!
Time to abolish this useless, archaic tradition.
Actually, you don’t have a say in that now do you?
This sounds like a folktale about a sad princess.