Japan revises imperial succession rules without allowing women to ascend throne

Japan's parliament on Friday approved amendments to the law on imperial succession, but maintained the ban on women ascending the throne, despite widespread public support for the move according to opinion polls.

The future of the imperial family, mythologically descended from the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, currently rests on 19-year-old Prince Hisahito, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito, 66.

If Hisahito, who is single and currently studying biology, does not have a son, he will have no heir under current rules, meaning the imperial line would end.

The Japanese imperial throne, known as the Chrysanthemum Throne, has been ascended by eight women in the history of the imperial family, which renounced its divine status after World War II.

However, the Imperial Household Law of 1889 stipulated that only men could ascend the throne and that succession would pass only through the male line.

This principle was maintained in the current Imperial Household Law of 1947.

This law excludes Princess Aiko, Naruhito's 24-year-old daughter, or any other woman of the imperial family, from ascending the throne.

The bill approved by the Senate on Friday allows male relatives from distant branches of the imperial family who are over 15 years old to be reincorporated into the imperial family, provided they are unmarried, thereby enabling their future sons to inherit the throne.

These belong to 11 imperial families that were removed from the imperial registry after Japan's defeat in World War II.

The new rules also end the practice whereby women lost their imperial status upon marrying a commoner, while their children remain ineligible to inherit the throne because succession does not pass through women.

Intense dissatisfaction —

The passage of the legislation came after disputes within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to head the Japanese government and an opponent of female succession.

Seiichiro Murakami, a veteran of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, said after the bill's approval in the House of Representatives on July 10, that excluding Aiko from becoming empress is 'extremely dissatisfying'.

Asahiro Kuni (81), a member of one of the eleven imperial branches, stated that he would advise his grandchildren to reject any offer to rejoin the imperial family.

Kuni told the Asahi Shimbun, 'By the age of 15, a person has grown up breathing the air of freedom.'

A poll by the Mainichi Shimbun last month showed that only 23% support making the children of reincorporated imperial family members eligible for the throne, compared to 34% who oppose it.

In contrast, over 70% of respondents supported a woman ascending the throne, while 40% supported succession through the female line.

A poll by the Asahi Shimbun in May also showed that 72% of respondents support amending the rules to allow women to ascend the throne.

The imperial family currently has 16 members, including five men: former Emperor Akihito (92), his brother (90), Emperor Naruhito and his brother Prince Akishino, and Prince Hisahito.

Hideya Kawanishi, a professor at Nagoya University specializing in Japan's imperial system, told AFP that the new bill 'does not reflect public opinion.'

He added, 'For the conservative faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and those who share their views, the ultimate goal is to maintain succession through the male line and restrict it to men, and that is precisely why they do not want to listen to the voice of the people.'

He continued, 'I think these amendments could undermine public support for the imperial system as a symbol of the state.'

Employee Yoshiki Yaguchi (66) said while walking in Tokyo's Yurakucho area, 'Perhaps they should have discussed more broadly the possibility of women ascending the throne and other issues that reflect modern society.'

High school student Yumi (17), leaving a shopping center with her friend Misa who shares her opinion, believes that 'the male-dominated mentality should be abandoned.'