Ben Hills

　　內文大概有時間順序，然而有時在同一章節、同一頁之內作多次時間跳躍。 　　書中雖沒直接道出，但讀完後自然明瞭，皇妃對宮內廳的意義／要求： １．放著好看的女兒節娃娃。平時鎖起來，盡量斷絕與外界的往來。需要時才放出來供國民／各國使節觀賞。 ２．不能有自我意識，心死身不死的女體傀儡。服重皇室，尤其是宮內廳。 ３．為皇室生下後代的器官。皇太子具生育能力的証明。如未能生下男孩，又過了生育年齡，則等同可被捨棄的東西。 　　這樣的環境，令人無法好好地活下去。即使堅強能幹如雅子妃，亦被迫走上崩潰之路。 　　作者從各方收集有限的資料，盡力把雅子妃及部份皇室生活重組於人前。雖然費盡心力，引起歐美等地的回響，但重點的日本宮內廳卻不為所動，十分可惜。… (más)

　　內文大概有時間順序，然而有時在同一章節、同一頁之內作多次時間跳躍。 　　書中雖沒直接道出，但讀完後自然明瞭，皇妃對宮內廳的意義／要求： １．放著好看的女兒節娃娃。平時鎖起來，盡量斷絕與外界的往來。需要時才放出來供國民／各國使節觀賞。 ２．不能有自我意識，心死身不死的女體傀儡。服重皇室，尤其是宮內廳。 ３．為皇室生下後代的器官。皇太子具生育能力的証明。如未能生下男孩，又過了生育年齡，則等同可被捨棄的東西。 　　這樣的環境，令人無法好好地活下去。即使堅強能幹如雅子妃，亦被迫走上崩潰之路。 　　作者從各方收集有限的資料，盡力把雅子妃及部份皇室生活重組於人前。雖然費盡心力，引起歐美等地的回響，但重點的日本宮內廳卻不為所動，十分可惜。… (más)

This book must be taken with a grain of salt. While I'm sure Ben Hills gave it his best, it is impossible to know the "whole story" without having talked with the subject of the book herself.

I found the book incredibly boring. The style in which it was written (more conversational than academic), to me is not professional for a serious work. I did not appreciate the likening of Crown Prince Naruhito to wearing a "best in show for champion poulty award" on his wedding day. It feels as though the author is not respectful of the traditions of the Japanese monarchy, or the honors it bestows upon its members.

I give this book two stars for the descriptions of Masako and Naruhito's lives before their engagement and marriage. The rest of the book was very boring and difficult to get through.… (más)