“Why did the Emperor family and the Akishino family differ so much?" "Akishino's comments could lead to control of speech": Journalist's Contribution

  




In 2021, Japan's imperial family was rocked by the marriage issue between Mako Akishino and Kei Komuro, and a ray of light was shed by the coming-of-age event of the emperor's only daughter, Her Imperial Highness Princess Toshinomiya Aiko.

 

At the end of the year, there were a series of articles in the Japanese media comparing the "Emperor Family" and the "Akishino Family."

 

Here is an abridged translation of one of them, written by journalist Masahiko Motoki for President Online on December 22.

 

(Omitted)

 

When did the lives of the elderly brother, the Emperor, and the younger brother, Prince Akishino, become reversed?

 

　The younger brother's life, which seemed to be going well with his free-spirited lifestyle, stumbled when his eldest daughter had marriage problems.

 

　The elder brother, on the other hand, struggled with his wife's illness and his only daughter's truancy, but his wife began to recover from her illness and her daughter came of age with a newfound vigor.

 

　Princess Aiko has become more slender than before and seems to resemble her mother, Empress Masako.

 

　I wonder how Prince and Princess Akishino feel about their brother's only daughter's radiant appearance.

 

(Omitted)

 

Longing for "Emperor Aiko" Grows Louder and Louder

 

(Omitted)

 

　According to public opinion polls, nearly 90% of the population is in favor of a "female emperor”. The popularity of ‘Emperor Aiko’ is sure to grow.

 

In contrast, the Akishino family has fallen on hard times due to Mako's marriage problems. Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, in particular, is said to be unable to recover from the shock of her eldest daughter's elopement marriage.

 

　After Mako's marriage, even when acquaintances and others expressed their congratulations, Kiko never replied with a "thank you. She is silent, and sometimes, without even smiling, she even lifts her eyes, closes her mouth in a straight line, and shuts her mouth. ......" (A person concerned with the Akishino family said: quoted from Shukan Shincho)

 

Where did Fate of Emperor Family and Akishino Family Change?

 

It is said that Kiko frequently took Mako and Kako to see the then Empress, and tried her best to imitate Empress Michiko's behavior.

 

She is said to have tried her best to imitate Empress Michiko's behavior, and gave birth to Prince Hisahito, who is said to have "saved the Imperial line.”

 

When the then Crown Prince (now Emperor) made a "denial of personality comment," Prince Akishino also complained at a press conference that his brother should have consulted with the Emperor, his father, beforehand, and was regarded as a resolute younger brother then.

 

Note: The "denial of personality comment" refers to a comment made by the then Crown Prince Naruhito (now Emperor) at a press conference in 2004, stated about the cause of his wife Masako's illness: "There were moves to deny Masako's career and personality.“ The statement was sensationalized at the time, but is now regarded as a manly statement by the current Emperor, who protected his wife from intervention by the Imperial Household Agency and bullying by some members of the Imperial Family.

 

Unlike his elder brother, Prince Akishino lived freely and was able to criticize his own family members without hesitation. At the time, many people in Japan applauded him.

 

Then Crown Prince's family was suffering, while the Akishino family was living freely and spontaneously. I believe that this trend began to change when the former Emperor abdicated before his death.

 

　As the heir to the throne, both he and his only son, Prince Hisahito, the public and the media began to pay much more attention to them.

 

　There is no doubt that there was a great deal of confusion on the part of Prince Akishino. This is probably the reason why he said, "I can't do it (means become Emperor) after that, because I will be very old when my brother abdicates.”

 

(Omitted)

 

Lastly, I would like to mention a comment made by Prince Akishino at his birthday press conference that makes me tilt my head.

 

“Regarding the weekly magazine reports and Internet posts that are said to have affected Mako's health, he said, "Slander, or words that deeply hurt people, whether in magazines or on the Internet, are not acceptable. I think we need to set certain standards, and if they are exceeded, we need to issue a rebuttal or something like that.” He said.

 

　He added, "This kind of thing will probably continue in the future. I think it's necessary to think about this, while also consulting with the Imperial Household Agency.”

 

　Although not widely covered by newspapers and TV, this is a serious statement that touches the very foundation of the coverage of the Imperial Family.

 

If the Imperial Household Agency takes the lead, we could go back to the prewar era

 

It is true that there have been reports about the issue of Mako's marriage that could be considered slanderous, while anonymously referring to people from the Imperial Household Agency and sources close to the Akishino family.

 

Nevertheless, I do not think that the Imperial Household should set certain standards.

 

　If the Imperial Household Agency were to take the lead, it is not hard to imagine that they would set the standards to suit their own convenience.

 

　In my opinion, the idea of regulating the press has the close-to-the-edge danger of taking us back to the prewar era.

 

(Omitted)

 

This may be another example of the differences between the brothers

 

　Why did Prince Akishino bring up such a serious issue, which could lead to the control of speech, at such an occasion?

 

Reading deeper into the story, one might wonder if the bureaucrats who were planning to take advantage of this opportunity to regulate the noisy weekly magazines had enticed Prince Akishino to say what he did.

 

　Perhaps Akishino's frustration over his daughter's marriage to a man he didn't like caused him to slip up accidentally, but he should have been more careful about what he said, considering the magnitude of his influence.

 

　I think this is another example of the difference between the Emperor, who is always close to the people and never forgets to express his gratitude, and Prince Akishino, who is driven by temporary emotions and makes careless remarks.

 

　The aftermath of Mako Komuro's marriage issue continues to spread even after the two have moved to New York. (Titles omitted in the text)
場所: Japan

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