Ken Ruoff, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at Portland State University and author of The People's Emperor, said Masako has been hemmed in by fears she could outshine her husband and has failed to develop a clear public persona of her own.
"It's just been extremely unclear what the crown princess and crown prince stand for," he said. "If they are not seen as lending their prestige to useful causes and just living selfish lives, there could be a reaction against the throne."
He said that isn't likely to happen soon, though, and added the couple remain popular and still have time to build up their public image.
"They haven't had the sex scandals that have tarnished the British royal family so deeply," he said. "In some ways, the blandness is more in tune with what the Japanese expect than having a crown prince who is zipping around the archipelago in a sports car."
Naruhito, meanwhile, has been quietly supportive of his wife.
"Although it may be some time before Princess Masako returns to her official duties, for my part, I will be by her side to offer encouragement, to give advice, and to do all I can to help her health improve," he said in a news conference to mark his birthday in February.
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