- 14 Mar 2002
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Last week, Mainichi published an interview with Japanese historian Nitō Atsushi, professor emeritus at the National Museum of Japanese History, who argues that the historical evidence supporting claims of an uninterrupted male-line imperial succession has been oversimplified for modern political purposes.
The timing is significant. The leaders and deputy leaders of both houses of the Diet are currently trying to build cross-party consensus on legislation intended to address the Imperial Family's shrinking size while preserving the existing male-line succession system.
Conservatives in the LDP insist that the throne should continue to pass only through the male line, as stipulated by the current Imperial House Law. Rather than permitting female-line succession, they favour restoring male descendants of the former collateral imperial branches (kyū-miyake) that lost their imperial status under the Allied Occupation in 1947. This step would preserve the traditional male-line succession. Critics, however, question both the historical basis of the "unbroken" male line and the practicality of bringing back families that have lived as ordinary citizens for nearly 80 years.
In the Mainichi interview, Nitō argues that the widely repeated claim of an unbroken male-line imperial succession is presented with greater historical certainty than the available evidence supports. He points to uncertainties surrounding the genealogy of some early emperors, particularly Emperor Keitai. He suggests that the modern emphasis on an uninterrupted paternal line owes much to the nation-building ideology of the Meiji period rather than to an unquestioned historical consensus.
Nitō is not disputing the legitimacy of the current Imperial Family but argues that policymakers should distinguish between history and political tradition. If male-line succession is to be preserved, the case should be based on today's constitutional or cultural values, not on historical claims that historians still debate.
And:
If the aim is to secure stable Imperial succession in realistic terms, the minimum first step should be to allow women in the male line to become emperor.
Read the interview here:
The timing is significant. The leaders and deputy leaders of both houses of the Diet are currently trying to build cross-party consensus on legislation intended to address the Imperial Family's shrinking size while preserving the existing male-line succession system.
Conservatives in the LDP insist that the throne should continue to pass only through the male line, as stipulated by the current Imperial House Law. Rather than permitting female-line succession, they favour restoring male descendants of the former collateral imperial branches (kyū-miyake) that lost their imperial status under the Allied Occupation in 1947. This step would preserve the traditional male-line succession. Critics, however, question both the historical basis of the "unbroken" male line and the practicality of bringing back families that have lived as ordinary citizens for nearly 80 years.
In the Mainichi interview, Nitō argues that the widely repeated claim of an unbroken male-line imperial succession is presented with greater historical certainty than the available evidence supports. He points to uncertainties surrounding the genealogy of some early emperors, particularly Emperor Keitai. He suggests that the modern emphasis on an uninterrupted paternal line owes much to the nation-building ideology of the Meiji period rather than to an unquestioned historical consensus.
Nitō is not disputing the legitimacy of the current Imperial Family but argues that policymakers should distinguish between history and political tradition. If male-line succession is to be preserved, the case should be based on today's constitutional or cultural values, not on historical claims that historians still debate.
And:
If the aim is to secure stable Imperial succession in realistic terms, the minimum first step should be to allow women in the male line to become emperor.
Read the interview here:
Japan historian questions claim of unbroken male-line Imperial succession - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- The Japanese government on June 30 approved a proposed revision to the Imperial House Law that includes measures to secure the number of Impe