Crown Prince Naruhito said his wife has become exhausted from the pressures of royal life, motherhood and media scrutiny over the couple's lack of a male heir, and asks that she be left in peace.
The Crown Prince, who turned 44 on Monday, blamed the media for its role in those pressures with unusually direct comments during a birthday news conference.
Crown Princess Masako has kept a low profile since she was hospitalized for a few days in December for herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles. The popular 40-year-old princess said last month her health had deteriorated because of intense mental and physical strains from being in an unfamiliar environment.