The book titled as ‘Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne’, is facing controversies too. The book, which was released by Random House in December, is written by Ben Hills. It actually tells the life history of the 43-year-old diplomat-turned-royal, who has been suffering from stress-induced health problems since a long time. The book has been criticized for containing “disrespectful descriptions, distortions of facts and judgmental assertions with audacious conjectures and coarse logic”, according to the officials. The Australian author is being charged of degrading the regal family through its wrong portrayal of Crown Princess Masako.
The condemnation came straight from the Japan’s Foreign Ministry in the form of official letters to both the publisher and the author. Ueda’s letter stated that “the Government of Japan can by no means ignore contempt for His Majesty the Emperor who holds the constitutional status, nor contempt for other members of the Imperial family as well as the people of Japan.” The letter carried a signature of Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Hideaki Ueda and was delivered in Sydney on Monday, in person.
The government chiefly is concerned with the treatment of the birth of the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Masako, Princess Aiko. They are also furious over the treatment of the physical condition of Masako in the book. The letter adds that the biography is full of “irresponsible citation of rumors” and “highly contemptuous descriptions.” However, the Imperial family is used to the honorific terms used by Japanese media. They avoid any matter that could be termed as provocative.
The author countering the accusations said that it was only a way to pressurize Kodansha (which plans to publish a Japanese edition of the book) to not do so. Hills said, “The book is highly critical of the Imperial Household Agency and their role in persecuting Princess Masako, causing her to suffer severe depression’. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, he wrote, “This had not been honestly reported in Japan, and the government is obviously afraid it will lead to criticism.” The book is due for release in several weeks in Japan.
Via:Hindustantimes/Images
