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Schooling a challenge for Princess Masako and Aiko

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Schooling a challenge for Princess Masako and Aiko

Princess Aiko is going to start primary school in April. But her attendance at Gakushuin Primary School in Shinjuku Ward is causing concern among mothers of her future classmates. In addition, it looks like Aiko’s mother, Crown Princess Masako, will suffer from new stress stemming from her daughter’s schooling.

Established in 1877 for the imperial and noble families, Gakushuin, which is currently a private school open to anyone, is now completing the final preparations to accept the 6-year-old princess, such as security and selection of pupils as her friends.

“Gakushuin has reduced class numbers from 44 students to 33. The school has moved a pool and a gym to an area across the street from the school building in order to build new classrooms. In April, all pupils will be given new ID cards with IC chips,” said the mother of a current pupil. She says these new changes due to Princess Aiko.

As for the selection of pupils as friends for Aiko, another mother says, “I heard that, just as they were with Princess Aiko’s father, Aiko’s friends have already been selected based on, for example, family lineage and height. In Aiko’s classroom, almost 70% of the pupils are from the same kindergarten of Gakushuin, while two thirds of the 130 pupils are newcomers to the school.” She adds, “The school seems to be planning to build high walls around the school to protect Princess Aiko from paparazzi as well as for security personnel. But I don’t want them to make it a big deal.”

One Gakushuin source said the school is asking all the mothers not to show photos taken at the school to outsiders: “They did this when Aiko was at kindergarten, but many moms complained about it. Of course, they want to be able to show photos of their kids at school.” The source added that the number of parents who have refused offers from Gakushuin primary school for their kids after the entrance examination was much more this year, perhaps reflecting concern over all the restrictions.

In spite of these complaints from mothers, a spokesperson for Gakushuin denies such concerns: “The change in the number of pupils in each class is just part of our improved educational policy. We cannot comment on security measures because it concerns the security of our pupils.”

A bigger problem will be the relationship between Princess Masako and other mothers. The Gakushuin insider says, “Unlike kindergarten, Princess Masako will have to attend school events more often, such as meetings with mothers, classroom observation day and school trips. Her relationship with other mothers will have to be much closer than at kindergarten. When Princess Masako joined a kindergarten trip a few years ago, it started raining and she didn’t know what to do. None of the other mothers spoke to her or gave her a hand. It showed the communication between them wasn’t working well at that time.”

For Princess Masako, her daughter’s new school may not necessarily be a happy event but will certainly be the beginning of another challenge in life. (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

Latest 15 of 31 Total Comments Show All

  • Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:06 AM JST - 26th March

    "It is a pity Princess Masako has not heard of Homeschooling."

    Homeschooling will only isolate the young princess even more. An open school will be much better for her, especially if the law is not changed to allow her to sit on the throne - she would need to be able to survive in the world outside the Palace then.

    Even if she became Empress one day it would still be good for her to make friends outside of royal circles.

  • speakingnow at 02:28 AM JST - 26th March

    Why should selection for a class within a School (albeit a private high-class one) be dictated by one individual ? Seems like just a continuation of the rot in Japanese society rather than an embracing of the modern world.

    On the security measures, I'd not complain about any of those given what goes one elsewhere in the rest of the Country - and on the matters of photographs, simply a statements to the effect that thereis a prohibition inplace of the sale of pictures of school members, without prior permission of the parents/guardians of those childrens depicted therein.

  • Ivespoken at 12:31 AM JST - 27th March

    I live in America and that would soooo NOT fly! I guess i understand the fact that she is princess or whatever but still! What makes her so mauch better than all the other kids at school? Her friends have already been selected? WTH?! If there so serious about "protecting" thier kid maybe homeschool would be the best bet!!!

  • Ivespoken at 12:33 AM JST - 27th March

    President Bush let's his kids go to school with the normals! Without building a fortress around the school!

  • illsayit at 11:05 AM JST - 27th March

    I would ask what is isolation? Surrounded with 1000+ people, community, and not to mention a very extended family, homeschooling would give her freedom and variation. It would be conducive to study as her relationship with her mother would be allowed to grow, and that is also necessary for study.

    Princess Masako has personality traits some similar to Princess Diana, would she, could she, be as so bold as Diana, on her ideals about motherhood.

    The Queen has showed her interests of cutting costs by selling her family home in the past. I like the Japanese Royalty.

  • robin_hood at 03:48 PM JST - 27th March

    "As for the selection of pupils as friends for Aiko, another mother says, “I heard that, just as they were with Princess Aiko’s father, Aiko’s friends have already been selected based on, for example, family lineage and height."

    Oh, I'm sure race doesn't have anything to do with it either... this is so typical of the Japanese... "Oh, but were not racist..."

    Sounds eerily similar to what the nazi's did 60 years ago.

    If they are really trying to isolate their daughter from being exposed to 'normal' working people, they should home school her on the premises, then they choose to invite their "pure bread" and "socially privileged" elite friends over when they want their daughter to make friends.

  • jerseyboy at 04:10 PM JST - 27th March

    No wonder Princess Masako is so depressed. Here is a Harvard-educated, former foreign diplomat, having her daughter's friends picked based on their lineage and height. This must be a horror to her. Because she knows that not everyone in the world is born into privledge, or is the same height. And that does not make them evil. But her daughter apparently won't get this chance to learn life's lessons. This is truly sad.

  • umbrella at 08:07 AM JST - 28th March

    yes, since when are friends "chosen" for a child?? Ridiculous. What if the kid makes a friend out of someone who isn't a "chosen one"?? What happens then??

  • tresbien at 11:17 AM JST - 28th March

    Of course is a challenge for them, considering they're spoiled and quite pampered as royals.

  • VoXman at 08:46 PM JST - 28th March

    Even the UK royals kids socialize in a small circle of families. When you consider the priviledged schools they go to. Only the wealthy and connected can get their kids in. Not too many regular Joes end up at Havard or as they say...HAAA vard.

  • ancientone at 05:01 AM JST - 29th March

    I'm glad school is starting for the Princess Masako and Aiko. I do think this picking out friends and class mates could be handled best by her daughter. If they play well together, bond and develop communications skills like other kids, wow. There are her friends. Just like you and I made friends "Way Back" then.
    I wish them all the happiness and hope all there days are filled with Joy.

  • anderstungtwist at 12:29 PM JST - 1st April

    President Bush let's his kids go to school with the normals!

    I'm sure the kids that they went to school with, CEOs' kids, network news anchors' kids, pro athletes' kids, supreme court justices' grandkids, etc., didn't feel exactly inferior to the president's kids. How normal are those rich kids? Probably never washed a dish or ironed a shirt in their lives.

    Homeschooling will only isolate the young princess even more.

    Assuming she remains a royal, her future life is most likely to be one of isolation.

  • jerseyboy at 10:45 AM JST - 2nd April

    VoXman...Completely incorrect. Most of Harvard is made up of "regular Joes" in fact. If you knew anything about Harvard, you'd know that it has one of the world's largest endowments, and uses this money to provide financial aid to students of modest means. I believe around 50% of the students are on some form of student aid. Sorry to burst your steroetyped bubble.

  • whiteswan at 07:18 PM JST - 2nd April

    I do not believe that Prince Naruhito or Princess Masako have made this decision -- height etc.

    I think that the Men in Black--- Kunaicho -- who control the imperial household have made the decision for them.

    Maybe Masako wanted her daughter to attend a "normal" school, but once again the 'Men in Black' told her (them) what to do.

    For the other mothers not to help out Princess Masako --shame on them.

  • rondh69 at 01:04 PM JST - 9th April

    Hey, I like her, but she doesn't have the sense to come out of the rain?

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