No Conclusion on Stable Imperial Succession

The Diet failed in concluding on stable imperial succession within the ordinary session of this year. Although the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councillors urged discussion over how to secure more members of the Imperial Families, the parties could not reach an agreement. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was late in wrapping up their internal opinions, due to its confusion brought by the slush fund scandal. As long as looking into the opinions submitted by the parties, it is not easy to find a consensus between the conservatives and other powers. 

An expert panel submitted to the prime minister a report for stable imperial succession in December, 2021, which proposed two options. One is allowing female members of the imperial household to retain their royal status regardless marriage. Another is allowing males from former branches of the imperial family to regain their imperial status through adoption. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida submitted the report to both Houses of the Diet for further discussion in January 2022.

 

Each party discussed the experts’ report. Komeito approved both options as reasonable. The Japan Innovation party, leaning conservative, also approved both options as realistic. However, the Constitutional Democratic Party required further discussion on female members, because the report excluded her husband and children from royal status. The CDP also demanded confirmation on whether there would actually be a male from former branches to be adopted.

 

The Japan Communist Party basically requires to allow a female emperor or an emperor from matrilineal line. The Imperial House Law determines that the imperial throne should be succeeded to by a male offspring in the male line. The experts’ report did not refer to a female emperor. Although the JCP hopes to pave the way to a female emperor, the conservative lawmakers firmly oppose that idea.

 

The last party that submitted its opinion was the Liberal Democratic Party. The discussion in the LDP was delayed by the slush fund scandal and it concluded to approve both of two options of imperial succession in mid-April. The discussion in each House by the representatives of all parties started in May.

 

The supplementary resolution of the Special Law for Imperial Abdication in 2017 requires the Diet to achieve “a full consensus of the legislative branch” on measures for stable imperial succession. However, it was unrealistic for the Houses to conclude that consensus by the end of the session set on June 23. The House of Representatives held only one meeting with attendance of all the parties. Rest of the meetings were made between the Speaker and each representative of the parties.

 

Kyodo News poll in April revealed 90 percent supported the idea of a reigning empress. Attitude of the conservatives who insist on paternal throne seems to be deviated from public majority. It is unavoidable for the lawmakers to discuss not only who should share the responsibility of imperial family, but who may take throne, which would require revision of the Imperial House Law.

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