Japan heir apologises to critics

By Jonathan Head
BBC News, Tokyo

Crown Princess Masako (R) is under pressure to have a boy

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito has apologised for criticising imperial household officials for putting unfair pressure on his wife.

Crown Princess Masako has been excused public duties for months, apparently suffering from mental stress brought on by pressure to produce a male heir.

The comments by Crown Prince Naruhito last May shattered the royal family's carefully managed facade of harmony.

Certain people, he said, had taken steps to deny his wife's personality.

It was a thinly-veiled swipe at palace officials, who are believed to have restricted Crown Princess Masako's efforts to travel more, and told her to concentrate on producing a male heir.

The couple have one daughter, Princess Aiko.

Only men are allowed to succeed to the throne in Japan, although the government is currently discussing changing the rules to allow Princess Aiko to become empress.

Now the Crown Prince has had second thoughts about his comments.

In a speech to mark his 45th birthday, he said he was sorry for causing trouble to his parents, the Emperor and Empress. He had only wished to inform the Japanese public about Princess Masako's situation, he said.

The latest remarks appear to be in response to pressure on the Crown Prince from palace officials and members of his own family to correct the impression of discord inside the imperial household, at a time when Japan has started debating the future of its largely symbolic royal family.

Under existing rules only men can succeed to the throne, but no males have been born for 40 years.

So a government committee is now discussing amending the rules so that Prince Naruhito's daughter, Aiko, will eventually be able to become Japan's first reigning empress since the 18th century.