Tag: akhito

Japan’s new imperial couple face heavy burden of tradition

By Kyoko HASEGAWA TOKYO, April 30, 2019 (AFP) – Japan’s incoming emperor Crown Prince Naruhito faces the delicate task of balancing tradition within the world’s oldest monarchy and his own modern values, including protecting his family from the palace’s rigid rules. The 59-year-old heir has not been shy about criticising the sometimes stifling lifestyle imposed on royals, particularly as his wife Masako has struggled to adapt to imperial life. And like his popular father Akihito, […]