The latest remarks by a member of the Imperial family have raised the question of how the succession ceremony for the throne should be like.
At a press conference held prior to his 53rd birthday, Prince Akishino expressed his doubts about a government plan to use public funds for Daijosai, the Imperial event that follows the enthronement of a new emperor, next year.
With the principle of the separation of politics and religion in mind, the prince posed the question, "What should the relationship between religious rites and the Constitution be?" He added, "[Daijosai] should be conducted using the budgeted allowances for [personal expenses of] the Imperial family." It was unusual for a member of the Imperial family to raise this question about the government's decision.
The Constitution states that "The Emperor ... shall not have powers related to government." In next year's change of an Imperial reign, Prince Akishino will become "Koshi," the status for the first in line to the Imperial throne. Given this important position, the prince is requested to be discreet in making remarks.
Remarks tied to the separation of politics and religion could be taken as being deeply tinged with political implications.
The prince said he had conveyed his thoughts to Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Shinichiro Yamamoto and other officials, but "they never listened," he said. In expressing his understanding about the prince's remarks, Vice Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura said, "I have accepted them as a rebuke to the Imperial Household Agency."
This is a regrettable situation as it is indispensable to secure good communication between the Imperial family and high-ranking agency officials for the smooth management of activities by the family.
Fine to use public funds
Daijosai is a grand thanksgiving ceremony to pray for abundant harvests and for the peace and tranquility of the state. Newly harvested crops are offered to deities. The ritual has a strongly Shinto aspects and there is no denying that it has a religious nature. For the Heisei change of the Imperial reign, the government's official view was established that Daijosai is not a matter of the state but an Imperial event.
At the same time, importance was attached to the public nature of Daijosai as a ceremony for the succession to the Imperial throne, and it was judged appropriate to cover expenditures for the ritual through the use of funds from budget appropriations for the public expenses for official duties.
It is understandable for the government to have followed the view previously formed on expert opinions. Under the Constitution, which stipulates hereditary Imperial succession, Daijosai is an important ceremony that is performed only once for each Imperial reign. It is necessary for the government to implement necessary measures so the ritual will be conducted without any problems. The use of public funds for the ceremony is reasonable.
In lawsuits filed over the fact that prefectural governors and others used public funds to attend the Heisei Daijosai, the Supreme Court judged their conduct to be constitutional.
Needless to say, it is important to ensure Daijosai is conducted in a manner that will widely gain public understanding. Prince Akishino also said, "Performing [Daijosai] ritual services within proper limits is an original form [of the ceremony]."
The Heisei Daijosai cost more than 2 billion yen in expenses for the construction of ritual facilities and other purposes. From the standpoint of reducing the burden on the public, the ceremony should be simplified wherever possible.
Problems related to the change of an Imperial reign are not limited to accompanying rites. Amid a decrease in the number of Imperial family members due to such factors as female members exiting the family because of their marriage, it is advisable to further promote in-depth discussions about how official Imperial duties should be performed.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2018)
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