kafka
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by kafka on Oct 7, 2005 8:04:03 GMT -4
For those who are interested, there have been developments with regard to the imperial succession. The conservatives are on the move and have begun what one paper calls a "campaign" against having a female empress. They are quite vociferous and (imo) are trying to derail the parliamentary committee's plans to have a gender-blind succession. Some months back, the committee suddenly did a volte face and switched from their initial stance of recommending just a gender-blind rule (and a female empress), to suddenly proposing adoption of distant male relatives as an alternative. Now, however, the conservatives are swinging into high gear and trying to scuttle any chance of a female empress being put forth as an option. Two stories on it. The first article is more extensive and discusses the "rationale" of the conservative scholars (aka the loonies). The second is brief but it's telling because it's from a Japanese paper and does the rare thing of labelling the conservatives' efforts as an outright "campaign." (The papers are so self-censored and so reluctant to run afoul of the conservatives that even the slightest objective assessment of their actions is seen as criticism and, thus, something dangerous)
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2005 20:24:19 GMT -4
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dwanollah
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by dwanollah on Nov 26, 2005 22:53:45 GMT -4
AWESOME! I really hope this does shake up the conservatives a little bit.
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may2
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by may2 on Nov 27, 2005 9:46:50 GMT -4
I think the odds of Princess Aiko finding a husband are pretty small.
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kwyett1
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by kwyett1 on Nov 27, 2005 12:42:55 GMT -4
I think the odds of Princess Aiko finding a husband are pretty small. Maybe she'll be lesbian
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2005 15:16:14 GMT -4
I think the odds of Princess Aiko finding a husband are pretty small. I agree, but after the way the IHA has abused and worn down Masako, I think the odds of a male heir finding a spouse are small, too.
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happypenguin
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by happypenguin on Nov 30, 2005 1:18:12 GMT -4
I think the odds of Princess Aiko finding a husband are pretty small. If the plans for her to become Empress succeed, will they change this rule that means she ceases to be royal if she marries a commoner? As happened to her aunt?
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2005 9:22:14 GMT -4
Yes, according to what I've read on the subject. So former Princess Sayako would be the last to lose her royal status.
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Post by Oxynia on Dec 4, 2005 0:32:00 GMT -4
Pictures of Princess Aiko in honour of her 4th birthday. They're taken from GREMB, so they probably won't be there much longer. If you can get them, just go to getty and do a search. She's adorable, and it's nice to see her mum smiling. I hope she's doing well these days.
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kafka
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Apr 30, 2024 3:03:26 GMT -4
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Post by kafka on Jan 5, 2006 4:49:34 GMT -4
There are some new articles on Masako and the Japanese Imperial Family which I thought some of you might like. The first one is about Masako's doctors' opinion. While it starts off reciting a lot of the old stuff about Masako's condition, the more interesting stuff is towards the end where it discusses the public view about her and how there is a generational difference in sympathy towards her. That point has been made in many other articles too, so I think it's probably quite accurate. You can find it here: Masako's doctors emphasize that a change in her public duties is neededThe 2nd article, linked below, is one of the most interesting I've read in a while (and I read almost everything on the Japanese, royal or otherwise). It's by David McNeill who is a phenomenally brilliant, insightful, knowledgeable journalist specializing in the Japanese and on the Imperial Family. I'd say he's as much of an expert as you can be without being a full historian. Anyway, the article is a modified version of something that appeared (in Japanese) in Newsweek Japan on December 7, 2005. It discusses a lot of things that most general newspaper articles don't explain about Japan: from the traditionalists' issues with female succession, the role of the IHA, their power over the press to suppress stories about the Imperial Family, the situation with Masako and much much more. There is also an interesting comparison of various different monarchies, from existing ones like the Windsors and the Spanish RF, to exiled/non-ruling ones like the Greek RF (and mentions of King Constantine), the Savoys and others. I don't agree with all of McNeill's conclusions but it's a phenomenal article and I encourage anyone interested in Masako to take the time to read the (albeitly LONG) analysis. It's worth it, imo, because it more like a Poli Sci analysis than just another news story discussing the same usual superficial junk about Masako's depression and the succession crisis: What Role Japan's Imperial Family?In the meantime, if anyone is interested, I can give links to photos of the Emperor's 72nd Birthday celebrations and his big annual speech on New Year's Day, both of which were attended by Masako in a rare appearance. Plus, the annual, official photos released by the IHA of the "Imperial Family" posing all together. It's just the core family, so there isn't the evil imperial cousin who is in cahoots with the IHA for a return to the concubine system as a way of getting heirs. But it does have Pr. Akishino and Prss. Kiko's two little girls. A friend of mine concluded (after years of seeing photos of the younger prince's family) that those two girls remind him exactly of the evil stepsisters from Cinderella. I wouldn't go that far but if it isn't too Off-Topic from the issue of Masako, I'll try to dig up a variety of photos showing Akishino's daughters. For those who get confused with all the Japanese names, he's Naruhito's younger brother and Masako's brother-in-law. More significantly, it was recently revealed that he and CP Naruhito haven't spoken in over a year. A generous explanation of it is that Akishino submitted to the IHA party line when he used his birthday speech to attack Naruhito for defending Masako against the IHA. The birthday press conferences are the royals one real opportunity to talk to the press but it's a totally staged press conference run by the IHA with pre-vetted questions and IHA answers, so perhaps he can't be blamed. OTOH, he's cozied up to the IHA before, against his brother and Masako, and seems to be in their pocket in some sort of weird sibling rivalry-cum-wannabe coup, so who knows. Plus, he was more than happy to blab about the feud during this year's press conference, so he seems to be far TOO willing to always land his older brother in hot soup. Personally, I don't trust the traitorous bugger and I don't blame Naruhito for feuding with him. On the issue of the Official Family portraits, Little Nori wasn't in them (as expected and won't be ever again). But given her speech after her marriage, her gutsy digs at the IHA and her surprisingly candid, pointed comments about what her own mother, the Empress, suffered, I think she's probably glad to have escaped! I think I've gone slightly off topic from the narrow issue of Masako, and I apologise for that. But everything is so intertwined and, to be honest, I can get a bit carried away on the issue of the Japanese royals. It's just such an unbelievably abnormal, schizophrenic, intrigue-filled life! It's like "Dynasty" with hellish aspects of the 1400s side-by-side with the 21st century. ETA: If you click on any of the links and it asks you to download a language pack, just click "NO." You will still get the story, in English, without any problems whatsoever.
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