Playback ’05] The Owada Family’s “Disbelief” in the Crown Prince’s “Apology Conference”: “Masako is the only one who has been wronged…” [Playback ’05

The Crown Prince’s “apology” further deepened his isolation.

Furthermore, on February 28, 2005, Shoichi Fujimori, 78, a counselor of the Imperial Household Agency, resigned. He was the director of the Imperial Household Agency when the Crown Prince and Princess Masako were married, and was the person who persuaded Masako’s father at the time, and was said to have been a liaison between the Owada family and the Imperial Household Agency for many years. Speculation flew that his resignation may have been related to Princess Masako’s problems.

On March 1, the day after Mr. Fujimori resigned as a counselor to the Imperial Household Agency, this magazine interviewed him directly in front of his home.

I have been in this position for nine years now, so I am old, and there is no end to it (if I do not decide to step down). ……

Fujimori told this magazine, but his true intentions as to why he is stepping down now are unclear.

On February 25, the Crown Prince apologized to the Emperor, Empress, and people at his birthday press conference. The Owada family said that this was a compromise with the Imperial Household Agency and caused them to distrust the Imperial Family.

《”The Crown Prince emphasized his collaboration with the Imperial Household Agency, the very agency that had denied Masako’s career and personality. Furthermore, he apologized for the ‘character denial’ remark, which was supposed to have been made to let people know about Masako’s situation. In such a situation, it could be taken as Masako’s fault alone.

Under such circumstances, it seemed that Princess Masako’s condition would remain unstable. The way out of the confusion was still far away.