The government's advisory panel on ensuring a stable Imperial succession began hearings Thursday at which experts gave their opinions on key issues that could shape the future of the Imperial throne.
Five experts were invited to the hearing held at the Prime Minister's Office: journalist Katsumi Iwai; Keio University Prof. Hidehiko Kasahara; journalist Yoshiko Sakurai; Kogakkan University Prof. Hitoshi Nitta; and Reitaku University Prof. Hidetsugu Yagi.
All five had previously given their views to a government advisory panel tasked with considering issues including reducing the burden of official duties undertaken by the then Emperor in 2016-17.
An individual hearing was held for each expert. The panel asked the experts for their views on 10 key points, including the declining number of Imperial family members; the idea of creating female Imperial branches, in which women could retain their Imperial status after marriage to a commoner; and the idea of the enthronement of a female emperor.
According to sources who were present at the hearings, the experts shared a sense of concern over the declining size of the Imperial family. However, views were divided over aspects of Imperial succession and who should be included as members of the Imperial family.
One topic coming under close scrutiny is whether to allow female members of the Imperial family to start new branches of the family. Although Kasahara indicated he would accept this change, other experts were cool toward the idea. Sakurai and Yagi expressed opposition to an emperor from a female line of descent, which would be unprecedented in Japan. Sakurai suggested allowing men from male lines of descent in Imperial family branches that were stripped of their status after World War II to return to the Imperial family as adoptees.
The advisory panel is scheduled to hold a second round of hearings on April 21.
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