ได้อ่านนสพ. เนชั่น ส่วนไลฟ์สไตล์ ของวันที่ ๑๘ พ.ย. ๕๐
Ties that bind กล่าวถึงความสัมพันธ์อันยาวนาน
ระหว่างประเทศไทย-ญี่ปุ่น
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/18/lifestyle/lifestyle_30056378.php ส่วนหนึ่งเป็นเรื่องเกี่ยวกับล้นเกล้าฯ รัชกาลที่ ๖ เมื่อครั้งเสด็จญี่ปุ่นหลังทรงสำเร็จการศึกษาจากประเทศอังกฤษ
ทรงประทับอยู่ที่นั่นเป็นเวลานานกว่า ๑ เดือน
In December 1902, HRH Crown Prince Vajiravudh (later King Rama VI) visited Japan on his way back
to Siam after spending nine years studying in England. The Crown Prince spent more than a month in Japan
and was seen to be enjoying the culture.
A photograph showing a mysterious woman in his bedroom led to rumours in the Siam royal court
of a love affair with a Japanese princess.
Phraya Padipatphubal, who was assigned by King Chulalongkorn to accompany the Crown Prince in Japan,
apparently reported that Japan's palace affairs minister had told him the emperor would like the Crown Prince
to marry one of his three daughters.
The three princesses were scheduled to visit a royal park and the emperor invited the Siamese prince
to choose one to be his wife.
Phraya Padipat-phubal also wrote that the Crown Prince had refused to see the Japanese princesses,
adding that the Prince was afraid that if he were to marry a princess and a family conflict were to later arise,
her father would send warships to attack Siam.
Charnvit [ historian Charnvit Kasetsiri of the Social Sciences and Humanities Textbooks Foundation ]
is not convinced by this story, explaining that the Japanese emperor would not have wanted his daughter
to marry the prince.
"At the time, the Japanese regarded Siam as a second-class country," he insists.
It later transpired that the mystery woman in the photograph was the Crown Prince himself clad in a kimono,
the traditional costume worn by Japanese women of the day.
Other monarchs of Siam also pictured attired in Japanese traditional costume were King Prajadhipok and
his queen Rambhai Barni during their royal visit in April 1931.
