With the conclusion Sunday of the ceremony proclaiming Crown Prince Akishino first in line to the throne, the government can now begin the task of looking closely at ways to ensure stable Imperial succession in the future.
The main points at issue are whether or not to review both the right of succession to the Imperial throne and the status of female Imperial family members after they marry. It appears that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga intends to proceed carefully with prudent discussions, without rushing to a conclusion.
When a special law was enacted in 2017 enabling the Heisei era Emperor to abdicate the throne, a supplementary resolution urged the government to swiftly come up with measures to realize stable Imperial succession and report them to the Diet.
Up to now, the government had put off such discussions in consideration of potential adverse effects on the Imperial events related to the current Emperor's succession to the throne. With the holding of the Rikkoshi-no-rei on Sunday, proclaiming Crown Prince Akishino as first in line, all rituals have been concluded, and the government intends to now get down to the task at hand.
As a press conference on Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said that on top of the government doing everything it could to assure the Rikkoshi-no-rei would be conducted smoothly, "We are also responding seriously to the spirit of the supplementary resolution."
The government has already begun unofficial canvassing of opinions from academic experts as to whether to expand the scope of the right of succession to the Imperial throne. It is, however, unlikely to discuss such matters as a female Emperor or the unprecedented case of an Emperor from the female line.
Suga has taken a cautious stance. "While taking into consideration the significance that the Imperial succession in the male line has been maintained without exception from ancient times, we need to discuss the issues carefully and thoroughly," he said.
At present, only three members of the Imperial family are eligible to succeed to the throne -- they are, in order, Crown Prince Akishino, his eldest son Prince Hisahito, and Prince Hitachi, the uncle of the Emperor.
If it becomes the case that the first child of the Emperor is given priority irrespective of gender, it could lead to a review of the status of Crown Prince Akishino as the first in line. A government official, noting that Prince Hisahito is still at the young age of 14, said, "There are no problems regarding Imperial succession at least for the time being."
On the other hand, to reduce the burden of official duties on Imperial family members as their numbers shrink, the government is poised to begin discussing whether to review the criteria for being considered a family member. Among the issues likely up for discussion is the possible creation of "female Imperial branches" that would allow female members to remain in the family even after marriage.
Discussing the issue of female branches was included in the supplementary resolution. But within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, particularly among conservatives, opposition runs deep, as some claim it opens the door to the possibility of an Emperor in the female line.
With Suga's term as LDP president ending in September next year, there are voices calling on him to take his time on the issue. "There is no rush for starting a debate which might split the party," said a source close to Suga.
Isao Tokoro, professor emeritus at Kyoto Sangyo University who is an expert on the Imperial family and Imperial era names, wants the government to proceed promptly.
"It is extremely significant that the opposition parties also signed onto the supplementary resolution," he said. "If there is a flaw in the Imperial House Law in regard to maintaining the system of the Emperor as a symbol of the nation, it is necessary to determine in what form a change is to be made."
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