Nakasone Rules Out Emperor Aiko

After the Speakers of both chambers of the Diet submitted “unanimous opinion” on maintaining members of the Imperial Family to Sanae Takaichi government, the conservative lawmakers insist on imperial succession by male members in male line. One of the lawmakers with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) made a speech that Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, cannot succeed to the throne. It is conservative people who are complicating discussion over the Imperial Family.

The chairman of LDP headquarters for constitutional amendment, Hirofumi Nakasone, made a speech in a meeting at Takaoka city, Toyama, that ruled out Aiko’s succession to the throne, saying that it would be “impossible.” Moreover, Nakasone said that Aiko cannot be married, if she succeeds to the throne. “No one would want to be married with her, if she is the Emperor,” he said.

 

Nakasone made that comment based on a notion that only male members in the male line should succeed to the throne. He referred to a possibility that Aiko would face an enormous pressure to bear male offspring. Recognizing public expectation for Aiko to succeed to the throne, Nakasone criticized that discussion. “It is not about popular voting. This is the discussion over how imperial succession should be and it needs to be made based on laws,” said Nakasone.

 

The unanimous opinion of the Diet recommends two options for maintenance of the imperial family members: keeping female members in the family after marriage and adoption of male members in the male line of former Imperial Family. Conservative lawmakers like adoption to maintain the family by male members, and reluctant to increase female members in the family.

 

But the Diet opinion was about maintenance of imperial family members, but not about succession to the throne. Nevertheless, the conservatives are trying to confirm succession in the male line, diminishing a possibility of female emperor. Takaichi government prepares a draft of revised Imperial House Law that enable the son of adopted male member to succeed to the throne. The top opposition party, Centrist Reform Alliance, argued that the draft would no longer reflect “unanimous opinion” of the Diet.

 

Nakasone later told the press that he was regrettable for his comment, but did not retract it. His comment includes a serious contradiction. He is right when he said that Aiko cannot succeed to the throne under current law. In this context, adoption of male member is also impossible, because the law unequivocally prohibit adoption. Conservative argument is that adoption of male is good and female emperor is bad.

 

Japan Innovation Party raised another argument on amendment of the Imperial House Law. The party demanded that the adoption of male member should not limited to the age of fifteen or older. Although the conservative powers have been arguing that discussion over imperial system should be made under calm circumstances, it is them who are discussing it loudly.

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