Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Rejects Proposals to Amend Male Succession Rules (November 19, 2011)

Tokyo, Japan — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Friday that she rejected any proposals to amend the rules of succession to the throne, which currently restrict succession to males only. Lawmakers are facing increasing pressure to address the future of the monarchy. Currently, only male descendants of the imperial family can ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne. Emperor Naruhito, 66, has only one daughter, and the hope for the continuation of the imperial family rests on Prince Hisahito, son of Prince Akishino. Prime Minister Takaichi told the Diet on Friday that a panel of experts concluded that restricting the imperial succession to male descendants in 2021 would be “appropriate,” and she respected their conclusions. “The government and I respect this report,” said Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister. She had previously warned that reforming the rules of succession to the throne was “imminent,” although it would likely involve “adopting” new members. Although traditional rules stipulate that only males can continue the imperial bloodline—which, according to legend, dates back 2,600 years—public opinion polls show strong public support for a female succession to the throne. Japan has debated the rules of imperial succession for decades. In 2005, a major government agency recommended that the throne should pass to the eldest son, regardless of gender. This seemed to pave the way for Princess Aiko, the Emperor’s daughter, to inherit the throne. However, the birth of Prince Hisahito the following year quelled the debate. In 2021, a government-appointed expert panel recommended exploring the possibility of the imperial family “adopting” new male members—that is, reintegrating distant relatives into the imperial family. However, it remains unclear whether these men would be willing to give up their careers and freedoms to continue the imperial bloodline. The panel also noted that imperial daughters currently forced to leave the imperial family after marriage might be able to continue fulfilling public duties after marriage. Traditionalists emphasize that the “unbroken imperial bloodline” of male succession is the foundation of Japan’s nation, and any major change would lead to national division. Under the postwar constitution, the imperial family has no political power. Historically, women who marry into the imperial family have faced immense pressure to bear sons, and some members of the imperial family have frequently become the subject of online and media rumors. Empress Masako, a former senior diplomat, struggled for years to have a son. She developed stress-related illnesses after entering the imperial family, which some believe were caused by the pressure of having a son. Empress Michiko, mother of Emperor Naruhito, also suffers from stress-related illnesses. Princess Mako, Emperor Hisahito’s sister, married her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro. Reports that Kei Komuro’s family faced financial difficulties led the former princess to develop complex post-traumatic stress disorder, which made tabloid headlines. The couple emigrated to the United States, where they had a child. —AFP