A new opinion poll was conducted in Japan relating to Imperial Succession. Have your say in the article below.
A new nationwide opinion poll was conducted in late March by the Mainichi Shimbun in relation to Imperial Succession. Among the 1,918 respondents, randomly selected from a pool of 77 million, to the question of amending the current Imperial House Law to allow women to succeed, 61% were ‘in favour’, while only 9% were ‘opposed’ and another 29% answered that they were ‘neither for nor against’.
An Empress Regnant is an Empress who reigns in her own right and who possesses full Sovereign authority.
Currently, the Japanese Imperial Succession adheres to a strict male-line primogeniture system, meaning only male descendants whose paternal lineage traces back to the Emperor can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne. Even today, within the current government, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who opposes amending the current Imperial Succession law to allow for an Empress’ accession, has emphasised, based on a government expert committee report, that the line of succession up to Prince Hisahito (Emperor Naruhito’s nephew) “must not be altered,” per the Mainichi Shimbun.
The current law also states that women must leave the Imperial Family upon marriage, which was recently seen with former Princess Mako of Akishino in October 2021 & former Princess Ayako of Takamado in October 2018. The dwindling number of Imperial Family members continues to raise questions and concerns about its very survival. Of the eight — in direct line to the Emperor — who are 18 years of age or older, only three are eligible to inherit the Throne.
The next in line is not the current Emperor’s own child, Princess Aiko (24), but his younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino (60), followed by his eldest son, Prince Hisahito (19), then the Emperor’s uncle, Prince Hitachi (90). Since undertaking her ‘Coming-of-Age Ceremonies’ as well as commencing duties as an adult member of the Imperial Family, Princess Aiko has garnered immense support and admiration both within Japan and abroad. In particular, the recent visit to Laos — her first solo overseas visit — was met with widespread acclaim, prompting many people around the world to express their hope that, one day, Princess Toshi will ascend to the throne as Empress Regnant.
Discussions on Imperial Succession, which had been stalled for about a year, are taking place today. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Eisuke Mori, expressed his intention to pass a bill to revise the Imperial House Law this week, stating, “I hope to finalise the bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current [Diet] session.” Numerous proposals have been put forward by the various political parties, such as Female Members retaining their Imperial Status post marriage to a commoner (adding their spouse and future children would not inherit Imperial Status), or that former collateral branches of the Imperial Family that were dissolved following WWII, should be reinstated with their male lines to be added in the succession. Many people believe that any changes to the Imperial bloodline, which is the foundation of Japan’s identity and heritage, should be a question for the wider populace to answer, rather than being discussed within government circles.
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