TOKYO, Feb 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s Emperor Naruhito has said his wife
Empress Masako “still has ups and downs” as she battles to recover from a
longstanding stress-induced illness related to her royal duties.
The health of Masako, who was fit enough to attend all of Naruhito’s
ceremonies when he was sworn in as emperor last year, is a major talking
point in Japan.
Hopes were raised that she had recovered from her illness as she was
present at a series of public events last year but Naruhito warned the
empress was “still on the path to recovery”.
“Her condition has its ups and downs and her fatigue tends to be prolonged
after a big event or when events take place one after another,” he told
reporters at a news conference to mark his 60th birthday.
“I want her never to extend herself too much but continue to work on what
she can do,” he said, describing her as “a good consultant on both private
and official matters”.
The Harvard- and Oxford-educated Masako left behind a promising diplomatic
career to marry into the royal family in 1993.
In 2004, the palace disclosed she had been undergoing treatment for
stress-induced adjustment disorder, which has forced her to skip some royal
engagements.
The couple’s only child Aiko, 18, will study Japanese literature from
April at Gakushuin University, of which Naruhito is an alumnus.
She cannot succeed her father as only a male heir can ascend the
Chrysanthemum Throne.
Naruhito’s younger brother Akishino is first in line to the throne. His
son, 13-year-old Hisahito, is second.
Aiko would lose her royal status once she marries a commoner.
That has raised the prospect of a succession crisis if Hisahito does not
have a son but the emperor refrained from commenting on the male-only rule.
He said he talks about the issue with Akishino but went no further than
that.
A public gathering to celebrate his first birthday as the emperor was
cancelled as fears grow over the spread of the new coronavirus in the
country.
“I hope the spread of infections will stop as early as possible,” he said
while praying for the recovery of patients and thanking medical workers.