Crown Prince Akishino celebrated his 57th birthday on Wednesday. Before his birthday, he held a press conference at the East residence in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, on Nov. 25, during which he expressed his belief that "it is necessary to convey accurate information in a timely manner," referring to reports by weekly magazines and scurrilous articles about the Imperial family, which he said were contrary to the facts.
At a press conference on the occasion of celebrating his 56th birthday last year, the crown prince cited weekly magazine reports and internet postings that differed from the facts as the cause of the complex post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by his eldest daughter Mako Komuro, 31, who married last October.
However, he also said that when refuting such false reports, "certain criteria will be necessary."
