Delayed Discussion on Imperial Family

The parties in the Diet did not reach a conclusion on measures for maintaining the Imperial Families in the extraordinary session in 2025. While opposition parties with liberal ideology are willing to increase female families, the conservative leading parties insist on keeping male line in the family. The polls show that the people are not so serious about maintenance of male line in the Imperial Families.

After Jun-ichiro Koizumi administration made a proposal for female emperor in 2005, the discussion stopped with birth of Prince Hisahito of Akishino in 2006. With concern on declining number of the Imperial Family or increasing role of Emperor and his family, the discussion was again revitalized in the Diet. The families were reduced from 25 in 1998 to 16 now.

 

Fumio Kishida administration wrapped up a report of experts which proposed two options: 1) female families would remain in the family after marriage, and 2) increasing the family by adopting former imperial families on the male lines. The Diet started intensive discussion on this issue under the leadership of the speakers of both Houses and representatives of each party in 2024.

 

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) are careful about adoption of former families in male lines, arguing that the adoption should be limited. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) demands the adoption to be permanent.

 

On the female family, both CDPJ and LDP basically agree that they should remain in the family after their marriage. However, they differ on whether her husband and children should also be counted as imperial families. While the LDP opposes the idea of including husband and children in the imperial family, the CDPJ is flexible on it. The leader of CDPJ, Yoshihiko Noda, accused the LDP of its rigorous attitude on this issue.

 

The conservative coalition of the LDP and Japan Innovation Party (JIP) agreed on putting the top priority on including former imperial families on male lines in their agreement for forming a coalition in November. Selling its conservative ideology, JIP insists on keeping current imperial system as long as possible, which is based on paternal concept.

 

The poll conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun in September and October showed that 69 percent of respondents approved female emperor with amendment of the Imperial House Law. Those who opposed to female emperor occupied only 7 percent. In the poll, 64 percent thought that the emperor could be from female line of imperial family, while 13 percent answered that the emperor should be succeeded by the families on male line.

 

The result of the poll indicated that most people more focused on stable maintenance of imperial family rather than keeping male line. The imperial families are growingly busy in attending various events and giving speeches to the audience, or reception for guests from foreign countries. “I hope the Diet to have an intensive discussion,” said Buichiro Kuroda, who was newly appointed to the Grand Steward of Imperial Household Agency.

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