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▼ Japan’s Female Imperial Family Members Could Keep Status After Marriage; Plan Broadly Agreed by Parties
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Many political parties are now broadly in favor of a plan to let female members of the Imperial family retain their status after marriage, as the Centrist Reform Alliance presented its views on ensuring a stable succession of the Imperial throne at a general meeting of ruling and opposition parties on Friday.
The meeting, held at the official residence of the House of Representatives’ speaker, was attended by the speaker and vice speaker of the lower house, the president and vice president of the House of Councillors and representatives from 13 parties and parliamentary groups.
With the CRA having presented its view, all political parties and parliamentary groups have now declared their stances.
“We aim to pass the bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session,” said Eisuke Mori, speaker of the lower house, after the meeting. He added that he plans to present a consolidated proposal at the next general meeting to be held within May.
The ruling and opposition parties have been discussing two plans on the issue that were presented in a final report compiled by a government advisory panel of experts in 2021.
One plan is to let female members retain status as Imperial family members after marriage, and the other is to adopt paternal-line male descendants of former Imperial family branches into the Imperial family.
The CRA, which had been delaying presenting its position, expressed its views at the meeting. The party stated that the first plan “should be approved” and that the other plan “could be institutionalized,” indicating a certain degree of acceptance.
With the CRA presenting its views, the first plan is now supported by most major parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the CRA.
Regarding the other plan, many parties are generally okay with it, apart from such parties as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party.
The speaker and vice speaker of the lower house and president and vice president of the upper house will present a consolidated proposal summarizing the opinions of each party and parliamentary group regarding the two plans at the next meeting.
Mori intends to finalize the consolidation after the next meeting.
The focus of the consolidation will be on granting Imperial status to the husbands and children of married female members of the Imperial family.
The LDP and others oppose granting them status, arguing that it could lead to an emperor of female lineage in which only the maternal line traces back to the Emperor.
Meanwhile, the CRA, which said “the matter [of granting Imperial status] should be dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner,” is calling for this issue to be explicitly listed as a matter for consideration in the supplementary provisions of the revision bill for the law.
At a press conference following the meeting, Mori commented on the consolidated proposal, saying: “It is impossible to gain the understanding and full approval of every party. I want to come up with a proposal that parties and parliamentary groups can accept, even if there are some differences.”
After Mori and others submit their consolidated plan as the legislative body’s proposal to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the government will begin drafting the revision bill. The government is expected to explain its outline to each party and parliamentary group prior to making a Cabinet decision.
Under the current law, eligibility for the throne is limited to “male offsprings in the male line” whose paternal lineage traces back to the Emperor. This provision will not be subject to revision in the bill.
Furthermore, the current discussions are based on the premise that Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and currently the youngest eligible heir to the throne, will maintain his position as second in line to the throne, following the crown prince.
The meeting, held at the official residence of the House of Representatives’ speaker, was attended by the speaker and vice speaker of the lower house, the president and vice president of the House of Councillors and representatives from 13 parties and parliamentary groups.
With the CRA having presented its view, all political parties and parliamentary groups have now declared their stances.
“We aim to pass the bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session,” said Eisuke Mori, speaker of the lower house, after the meeting. He added that he plans to present a consolidated proposal at the next general meeting to be held within May.
The ruling and opposition parties have been discussing two plans on the issue that were presented in a final report compiled by a government advisory panel of experts in 2021.
One plan is to let female members retain status as Imperial family members after marriage, and the other is to adopt paternal-line male descendants of former Imperial family branches into the Imperial family.
The CRA, which had been delaying presenting its position, expressed its views at the meeting. The party stated that the first plan “should be approved” and that the other plan “could be institutionalized,” indicating a certain degree of acceptance.
With the CRA presenting its views, the first plan is now supported by most major parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the CRA.
Regarding the other plan, many parties are generally okay with it, apart from such parties as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party.
The speaker and vice speaker of the lower house and president and vice president of the upper house will present a consolidated proposal summarizing the opinions of each party and parliamentary group regarding the two plans at the next meeting.
Mori intends to finalize the consolidation after the next meeting.
The focus of the consolidation will be on granting Imperial status to the husbands and children of married female members of the Imperial family.
The LDP and others oppose granting them status, arguing that it could lead to an emperor of female lineage in which only the maternal line traces back to the Emperor.
Meanwhile, the CRA, which said “the matter [of granting Imperial status] should be dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner,” is calling for this issue to be explicitly listed as a matter for consideration in the supplementary provisions of the revision bill for the law.
At a press conference following the meeting, Mori commented on the consolidated proposal, saying: “It is impossible to gain the understanding and full approval of every party. I want to come up with a proposal that parties and parliamentary groups can accept, even if there are some differences.”
After Mori and others submit their consolidated plan as the legislative body’s proposal to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the government will begin drafting the revision bill. The government is expected to explain its outline to each party and parliamentary group prior to making a Cabinet decision.
Under the current law, eligibility for the throne is limited to “male offsprings in the male line” whose paternal lineage traces back to the Emperor. This provision will not be subject to revision in the bill.
Furthermore, the current discussions are based on the premise that Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and currently the youngest eligible heir to the throne, will maintain his position as second in line to the throne, following the crown prince.
- 16/5 19:45
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