The Japanese Royal Family: Crown Princess Masako, Crown Prince Naruhito, the Emperor, Empress Michiko, Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko at the Tokyo Imperial Palace in 2005. (Wikimedia Commons (cc:by))
During his current trip to Asia, President Obama will meet with a variety of leaders and diplomats. He will also meet two members of Japan's royal family: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The fiercely private royal family has long been surrounded by secrecy and rumors. We talk to John Burnham Schwartz, best-selling novelist and screenwriter. He is author of "The Commoner," which is a novel loosely based on the lives of some members of the Japanese royal family.
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My book 'Princess Masako -- Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne' may be of interest to your subscribers.
Members of royal families must envy democratically elected leaders who can speak freely.
http://princesswantsout.blogspot.com/2009/11/speechless.html