Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne

While the title and focus is Princess Masako, the book is really an introduction to and an analysis of the Japanese royal family. Author Ben Hills, describes its position in Japan and how it compares and contrasts with the remaining reigning monarchies in the world. The author has done a lot of homework and has produced a highly readable book. Perhaps the closest comparison to Masako's situation would be Princess Diana, but as Hills points out, this is not even close. Diana was able to choose her staff, such as her famously loyal butler: A Royal Duty. Masako's staff is free, since they inherit their positions, to undermine her, start whispering campaigns, and plant negative stories in the press. This is not likely to change. Diana chose issues and charities that might have horrified her in-laws, but, as a spouse or former spouse, they could not stop her. Diana, as nature would have it, performed the duty, producing not one but two direct-line male heirs. Masako has none of these advantages. Even seeing her parents is an ordeal. This royal family, stripped of its power and most of its wealth after WWII, is beholden to the political power of the agency that manages them and their household. While the general public might want to see a more popular monarch, the monarchy itself derives its political support from the extreme right wing of Japanese politics, which wants to conserve the traditional ways. The monarchs who live under this yoke receive the respectful bows of the staff, but in reality it is the monarchs who must grovel to the system. Hills never points to this directly, but it is the only conclusion that can be drawn. The power of this agency and the politicians that support it is shown in how this book has been banned in Japan. If you know about and understand Japan's monarchial system, this will not be the book for you. Notice, the l and 2 star reviews here say "nothing new". But for the vast majority of English language readers who are interested in Japan there will be lot that is new. I highly recommend this book.

This has to be one of the greatest books I've read in a long time. I seriously suggest this book to anyone who is looking for an interesting and great book to read.

Many young women dream of marrying a prince; but very few achieve this goal; especially in modern times. Masako Owada did, though: she was a Harvard-educated woman who in 1993 gave up a career as a diplomat to marrow Crown Prince Naruhito - and entered a strange new world of a Japanese royal household. PRINCESS MASAKO goes behind the scenes to reveal the pressures upon her to produce a male heir and keep the world's oldest royal dynasty from dying out: thirteen years after her marriage Masako's depression and woes have made headlines, so PRINCESS MASAKO: PRISONER OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM THRONE will remain a popular lend for any public lending library collection. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Despite her brilliant intellect and impressive accomplishments she made the one and unforgivable mistake most women make ---- give up a career and HER LIFE for a throne (and a feudal one to boot) and a man who obviously was the "wrong man" for her. She is just getting what she asked for. All she had to do was realistically look at her mother-in-law's miserable life!

There has been very little published in the United States about the Japanese Royal Family, and this book can be read at at least two levels. First is the general tone of the book as brought out by the sub-title, 'The Tragic true Story of Japan's Crown Princess.' This part of the book has a rather gossipy 'poor little girl' theme. By our standards, it must be difficult for anyone to be a member of a royal family, anywhere, not just in Japan. Look at the people annoying Princess Di for pictures to the extent that it killed her. The book says she suffers from depression. You certainly don't have to be a crown princess to be depressed. Just look at the percentage of people, rich, poor or inbetween in this country that take anti-depressants on a regular basis. So I have to conclude - so what. The other part of the book is on the general rule of how the Royal Family operates in Japan. It's certainly different than the way it operates in Europe. There are a couple of hints in the book that I found very interesting and would like to see further developed. He reports, for instance that in 1989 the Mayor of Nagasaki was killed for suggesting that Emperor Hirohito bore responsibility for Japan's involvement in World War II. This is an opinion that is growing in the West. (Mr. Hills, a book on that subject would be really good.)