News Japan protests UN call to reform imperial succession

[thomas]

That must be quite embarrassing to the encrusted right-wing elites:

Japan has formally protested a UN human rights watchdog's recommendation to review the country's male-only imperial succession law. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that the government had previously informed the UN panel that such a review would be "inappropriate," as the imperial succession system is deeply rooted in Japan's national identity. Hayashi expressed disappointment that the final report from the UN panel, which aims to eliminate discrimination against women, included a reference to the Imperial House Law. He emphasized that the law is fundamental to Japan's national identity and should not be subject to international scrutiny.

An overwhelming majority of the Japanese population supports female imperial succession. In 2006, then-PM Koizumi endorsed the idea of submitting a bill to the Japanese Diet that would allow women to ascend to the throne.

While the panel acknowledged in its report released Tuesday that the 1947 Imperial House Law is "not within the purview" of its competence, it said it considers the succession rule "contrary to the object and purpose" of the U.N. convention to eliminate discrimination against women. "We have lodged a strong protest with the committee and called again for the removal of the reference," he added. In 2016, Japan strongly objected when a recommendation to amend the Imperial House Law was included in a draft of the concluding observations of that year's review, and the final version ended up with no reference to the issue.

Japan protests UN call for reviewing male-only imperial succession - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan has lodged a protest with a U.N. human rights watchdog that called for reviewing a domestic law that limits imperial succession

mainichi.jp

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

It's not even like Japan has never had a female emperor before. If fact, there have been even more than I realized.

Japan’s Female Emperors

Under Japan’s Imperial House Law, only a man can become emperor, but historically this was not the case. There have in fact been eight female Japanese emperors to date.

www.nippon.com

 

[Lothor]

That must be quite embarrassing to the encrusted right-wing elites:

Japan has formally protested a UN human rights watchdog's recommendation to review the country's male-only imperial succession law. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that the government had previously informed the UN panel that such a review would be "inappropriate," as the imperial succession system is deeply rooted in Japan's national identity. Hayashi expressed disappointment that the final report from the UN panel, which aims to eliminate discrimination against women, included a reference to the Imperial House Law. He emphasized that the law is fundamental to Japan's national identity and should not be subject to international scrutiny.

An overwhelming majority of the Japanese population supports female imperial succession. In 2006, then-PM Koizumi endorsed the idea of submitting a bill to the Japanese Diet that would allow women to ascend to the throne.

Japan protests UN call for reviewing male-only imperial succession - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan has lodged a protest with a U.N. human rights watchdog that called for reviewing a domestic law that limits imperial succession

mainichi.jp

How typical of Japan: basking in self-praise whenever the UN acknowledges something good about the country (e.g., UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and sulking when it is criticised.

 

[thomas]

I cannot wrap my head around what "national identity" is supposed to mean. And how would an exclusive male succession relate such an identity?

 

[Lothor]

I cannot wrap my head around what "national identity" is supposed to mean. And how would an exclusive male succession relate such an identity?

Perhaps the people who run the show In Japan are so arrogant that they think they can say what is and isn't Japan's national identity.

 

[thomas]

Perhaps the people who run the show In Japan are so arrogant that they think they can say what is and isn't Japan's national identity.

It is sheer arrogance, as they blatantly disregard what the majority of the population thinks, be it same-sex partnerships, spousal surnames, or imperial succession, among other issues. And these people still have clout, as the current PM recently discovered, forcing him to backpedal from earlier promises.