Secrecy and intrigue in Japan’s royal family

The World

During his current trip to Asia, President Obama will meet with a variety of leaders and diplomats. He will also meet two members of Japan’s royal family: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The fiercely private royal family has long been surrounded by secrecy and rumors. We talk to John Burnham Schwartz, best-selling novelist and screenwriter. He is author of “The Commoner,” which is a novel loosely based on the lives of some members of the Japanese royal family.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.