BOOK REVIEW Crown prince's 'happiest time' The Thames and I by Crown Prince Naruhito
Reviewed by J Sean Curtin Buy
this book
Beyond the carefully crafted public personas, most Japanese know relatively
little about the private lives of their imperial family. While the personal
lives and intimate secrets of European royals are regularly splashed across
newspapers, their Japanese
counterparts remain distant, cocooned. It is this inaccessibility that makes
Crown Prince Naruhito's memoir of his time at Oxford University between 1983
and 1985 such a compelling read.
The Thames and I - basically a diary-cum-travel guide - is no great
literary masterpiece, but it does reveal something of his
inner thoughts, offering an exceptionally rare glimpse of the man who will one
day occupy the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Oxford has left a deep impression on him, which he openly acknowledges. "This
had been a happy time for me - perhaps I should say the happiest time of my
life." (p 142) It was probably the only extended period in his life in which he
could live a free, anonymous, semi-normal existence. The modern-day prince is
sadly condemned to eternal pursuit by hordes of relentless paparazzi. Thus a
two-year release from such torment made Oxford a fantastic haven, constituting
a significant thread in the life-tapestry of the future monarch.
A very limited, and hard-to-obtain, edition of the book was original published
in 1993 as part of the celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of the
founding of the prince's alma mater, Gakushuin University in Tokyo, so its
emergence in English is extremely welcome. The book was primarily aimed at
Japanese university students, and as such it also functions as a good test of
the English readers' cross-cultural knowledge. Those with limited experience of
Japan may occasionally find some of the prince's observations odd.
The early stages of the account read like Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a
Strange Land, as the intrepid prince struggles to make sense of the
alien world he now inhabits. Of his maiden Oxford drinking foray he notes: "I
wondered what sort of a strange place I had come to ... I can still remember
that it was at this moment sitting in the midst of the aroma of the beer and
watching the forms and gestures of the students in the gloom that I realized I
was in Oxford so far away across the sea." (p 26) To ease the transition into
this bewildering realm, he assumes a new name, explaining, "I thought that
'Hiro' was much easier for people to remember than Naruhito."
One definite fact we glean from this memoir is that the prince is a man who can
hold his liquor, an ability that greatly helps him navigate the liquid customs
of Oxford as well as smooths his hobnobbing with European royals and
aristocracy.
Sadly, the prince does not reveal whether he found love while at Oxford, and
his account is free of romantic references except for one cryptic note: "On
Valentine's Day there were cards from various unknowns."
However, his passionate love of music and deep intellect do come across
clearly. At heart he is a thoughtful, gentle man who has led a sheltered
existence. Sometimes, his unworldliness gives him a Peter Pan-like air. For
instance, he admits to feeling sorry for a parrot in an Oxford pet shop because
it "had not found a buyer". His ability to be constantly moved by events and
places also amplifies the sense of youthful wonder he experienced as he
journeyed through England's green and pleasant land.
He greatly enjoys photography, telling us he took more than 2,000 pictures of
Oxford. Before the dawn of the digital camera, this meant frequent trips to the
local photo shop, where he struck up a warm friendship with the staff. One day,
they invited him to a going-away tea party for one of their staff. Little did
these ladies realize that the polite Asian gentleman they were sipping tea with
was a prince and heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. In his own unique way, Hiro
unwittingly reworks a scene from Shakespeare's Henry V. Such ordinary
encounters with everyday folk would be impossible in his native land. When the
jeans-clad prince was occasionally spotted by Japanese tourists as he wandered
around Oxford, most could not believe what seemed like an apparition. Such a
sight was almost irreconcilable with the immaculately clothed and saintly image
of the Japanese imperial family. It was this freedom and the alter ego it
afforded that has made Oxford so important to the future emperor.
The prince meticulously describes Oxford University life and Merton College
traditions, which will probably fascinate those who have not experienced them
first-hand. He also details his research into the history of transport on the
River Thames between 1750 and 1800. He is full of praise for his tutors.
However, it wasn't all books - he also found time for tennis, squash and
rowing.
Hiro frequently proclaims his deep enchantment with the city and its river,
which he honors in the book title. He confides: "Even though the river is on
the other side of the globe, the name of the Thames conjures up in me feelings
of affection and nostalgia transcending distance and time. While I was at
Oxford, the Thames was the prop of my life and of my studies." (p 126)
As the book closes, Hiro departs Heathrow Airport to resume his life as Crown
Prince Naruhito, observing: "As the London scene gradually disappeared from
view, I realized that an important chapter in my life was over ... I felt a
large void in my heart and as I stared out of the windows of the plane, I felt
a lump in my throat."
Finally, a review would not be complete without a mention of the considerable
contribution made by the invisible man, translator Sir Hugh Cortazzi. The text
flows smoothly, with helpful yet unobtrusive footnotes. In the preface the
prince thanks Cortazzi "for the zeal and efforts he has put into this project".
It is true that without his phenomenal energy and patient negotiations with the
imperial household this intriguing publication might never have made it to an
English printing press.
The Thames and I by Crown Prince Naruhito. Global Oriental Publishers,
December 2005. ISBN 1-905246-06-4. Price US$52, 128 pages.
J Sean Curtin is a researcher for the Japan Society.
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inner thoughts, offering an exceptionally rare glimpse of the man who will one
day occupy the Chrysanthemum Throne.
