The Imperial House of Japan is believed to be the world’s oldest hereditary royal family, with a history that can be traced as far back as 97 B.C. When Emperor Akihito abdicated in 2019, his son, Naruhito, and wife, Princess Masako, were elevated to emperor and empress.
Shortly before Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako ascended to the throne, the then-princess opened up about how much she’d struggled in her royal role and the concomitant mental health issues that came with it. In an official statement issued ahead of the abdication, Masako revealed that she’d received a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, a condition related to anxiety, stress, and/or depression.
The princess had largely kept out of the public eye, but the statement indicated that her condition was improving; As a result, she took on more public duties. “I am happy as I can now perform more official duties than before, little by little,” she said in the statement (via BBC News). Meanwhile, a separate statement from her physicians underlined how important it was that she continue treatment and not be forced to experience any undue stress, explaining that the princess “is still on the recovery track and there are ups and downs to her condition.”
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