The Japanese government intends to step up discussions on measures for the well-being of the Imperial family after this autumn. The timing relates to the postponement -- due to the coronavirus -- of the Rikkoshi-no-Rei ceremonies to proclaim Crown Prince Akishino's ascension to be the first in line for the throne. After the ceremony has been carried out, a review of who qualifies as Imperial family members and discussions of related matters will commence.
"We are proceeding with the arrangement of topics and points considering recent trends by hearing from specialists individually and so on," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on April 30, describing the recent situation of measures for stable Imperial succession.
The decreasing number of Imperial family members has increased public interest in two related topics. One of those, which the government does not plan to discuss, is whether to expand the scope of Imperial family members who have the right to assume the Imperial throne. The other, which the government will discuss, is reviewing the scope of Imperial family members overall, to reduce the burden of duties on each individual member.
The Imperial House Law states that the throne may pass only to male successors who are in a male line of descent from a previous emperor. Currently there are three Imperial family members thus qualified: the Emperor's brother, Crown Prince Akishino; the crown prince's son, Prince Hisahito; and the Emperor's uncle, Prince Hitachi. As for the Emperor Emeritus, a special measures law to realize his abdication precludes him from assuming the throne again.
Any discussions of expanding the scope of Imperial family members who have the right to succeed to the throne would involve the idea of a female emperor or a "female-line emperor" -- essentially meaning a male or female emperor descended from a previous emperor on their mother's side rather than their father's.
While some experts have spoken of these concepts, the government is not set to discuss them yet. The government is wary of causing an unstable situation for the Imperial family, since if the eldest child were to ascend to the Imperial throne regardless of gender, the line of succession to the Japanese throne would be reviewed in a way that could alter Crown Prince Akishino's position.
But the government does plan to discuss expanding the scope of Imperial family members overall, such as through the creation of female Imperial branches in which female members of the Imperial family retain their status after marriage, or the reinstatement of male members of male lines in former Imperial family branches who lost their Imperial status after World War II.
Some experts who have spoken to the government specifically called for the reinstatement of former Imperial family branches.
Some conservative lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party and other lawmakers are wary of establishing female Imperial branches since it could be a major step toward the realization of a female-line emperor. As for the reinstatement of former male lines of the Imperial family, whether the government can win the understanding of the people will likely be an issue as long time has passed since those lines became separate from the Imperial family.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
