Should a female be allowed to ascend the throne in Japan?

[Mycernius]

I heard that since the birth all the traditionalists are saying that the question about female succession is now moot. I still think it should still be discussed, after all this could happen again in the future. Rather than let it mire the government down again, clear it up now and the next time there won't be a big discussion on the matter.

 

[Mars Man]

There could be a fair degree of truth in that understanding, namely that a large (or even all, maybe) traditionalists are saying that the discussion of a female ascending to the throne is moot, but just this afternoon, a panel discussion I watched with Mchan on TV had all the panelist agreeing that it was not over, and that it would be wrong to think so.

So. . . we may not have the final word on what will become of that yet. It might put the arguments for a female emperoress (sp?) on the back burner for a good long while.

Let's see what some with more interest in the subject than myself, living here in Japan have to add. MM

 

[leonmarino]

I just saw it on the news here and some Japanese guy who was interviewed on the street said something like: "I'm glad the 2000 year old tradition can now be continued".. He must have missed the fact that the law that prohibits women from ascending the throne was past in 1947.. Why was that law enforced anyway? Does anyone know? Is it because they believe the bloodline passes through men?

 

[caster51]

Is it because they believe the bloodline passes through men?

both blood and Y chromosome have a nothing to do with this matter.

 

[Davey]

I am not really happy with the fact that she got a boy ( of course I am for her, but not for Japan) because it would be much better for the females in Japan if a Female would be allowed.....

I guess it will take a LONGGGGGGGGG time for Japan to change this strange law (since 1949 isn't?)

 

[Nobitakun]

Thinking that all the great disasters of the world have been caused because of silly men, I really support women to be queen and president. It's stupid and dumb not to be able to access to those ranges, we men aren't strong anymore, and someday women will revenge. It can seem funny, but it will be thus, so, Japan better let she to be Queen, for their security...

 

[caster51]

Female Emperor is allowed.
Female Emperor's kid is never allowed as next emperor

I hope it changes the law like that

 

[kamaru]

Before wednesday I had a sort of feeling that the new imperial baby might be a girl.. I don't think I have the right to interfere in the Japanese law but I think women and men have the same capabilities and potential to rule...

 

[tetsunihon]

I agree. Even though I got the tail end of this post, I think the law should be changed and allow female emporess..........if she is allowed either way her son will be a heir to the thrown when she dies either way. But she should get the chance to be chosen, besides more and more weman are working and getting leadership positions anyway....why not rule the country too.

America also has yet to have a female President......so a lot of countries have a lot of changes to make......

 

[caster51]

Wait ......
there were more than 10 female emperors in japan in the past

the problem is not female emperor

.
the problem is an emperor who is an emperor in female line
Please distinguish the Female emperor and emperor in female line

 

[shiroma]

NHK news

Princess Kiko and Baby Prince Head Home​

Princess Kiko and her newborn son Prince Hisahito have left hospital.

Princess Kiko and Prince Hisahito were discharged Friday from the Aiiku Hospital, where she gave birth last week.

Prince Akishino accompanied his wife and son to the family's residence in the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.

This was the public's first look at the new Prince, and a large crowd gathered around the hospital and nearby roads to catch a glimpse.

Princess Kiko had Hisahito by Caesarean section on September 6. The Imperial Household Agency says the baby is healthy and has a strong cry. Princess Kiko has recovered well and is breast-feeding her baby.

The baby is the first male heir born into the Imperial family in almost 41 years. He is third in line to the throne, after the Crown Prince and his father, Prince Akishino.

Later, Prince Akishino and the Princess said in a statement they are grateful for the warm support they received over the birth of Prince Hisahito.

Prince Akishino said he is very happy that both mother and child were able to leave hospital, and thanked the medical staff for making the stay comfortable.

Princess Kiko said the warm support by the Emperor and Empress, as well as the earnest care from the medical team, gave her strength when she felt anxious about her pregnancy complications.

She also thanked her friends, family and all the people who prayed for the baby's safe delivery.

 

[Mycernius]

I read this today

Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006

Abe ally wants law ensuring male-only succession
Kyodo News
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hakubun Shimomura, a close ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Saturday an Imperial law should be revised "not so far in the future" to ensure a stable male-line succession of emperors.

"The tradition of male-line succession will not be safe without revising the law just because Prince Hisahito has been born," Shimomura said at a rally in Tokyo celebrating the royal birth. "We are now in an important period when we must begin thinking about a legal revision in the Diet not so far in the future."

Some of the main proposals floated by conservative politicians, including Abe, to ensure a male-line succession are giving royal status to some male members of former Imperial families and having them succeed existing Imperial branch families.

In addressing a predominantly conservative audience, the Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker stressed that Abe's new Cabinet will not be constrained by the panel of experts appointed by Junichiro Koizumi. He also ruled out the creation of a new expert panel under the Abe administration.

Last year, Koizumi's panel recommended allowing female monarchs and their descendants to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne to ensure a stable succession -- a proposal staunchly opposed by conservatives like Shimomura.

Shimomura called on other lawmakers to join a group to be set up in mid-October aimed at preserving traditional Imperial succession rules.

"I would like many Diet members to join the caucus and would like to see the caucus be proactive in making proposals to the government," he said.

The new group, to be headed by Yoshinobu Shimamura, an LDP lawmaker and former farm minister, is expected to discuss how laws can be enacted or revised to maintain the male-line Imperial succession.

Prior to Prince Hisahito's birth on Sept. 6, no male had been born to the world's oldest hereditary monarchy for 41 years. Under the Imperial House Law, which limits successors to males, Prince Hisahito is the only heir in the monarchy's youngest generation, standing third in line to the throne behind his uncle, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his father, Prince Akishino.

It seems that they still are tied to the dark ages when it comes to equality when it comes to monarchies. People like Shimomura shopuld really take a look at the world around them and realise that women are just as capable of being a monarch as much as a man can, and in some cases better.

 

[alt]

America also has yet to have a female President..........

While that is another topic, I would say that America is not ready for a female president, also in my opinion, there are very few if any females in the US that are qualified to be president. Don't go and say that Hillary is an option either because she most definitely ain't.

(I also know that people are going to "flame" on me for that opinion, but so be it, it is MY opinion)

At least with the monarchy here in Japan the position is mostly as a figure-head and not one of any real power. It would be a great step forward for Japan to recognize it's position in the world to allow the first born child to be the successor of the Emperor whether the child be male or female.

 

[Sukotto]

It seems it should be up to the royal family and the royal family alone, no?

 

[alt]

It seems it should be up to the royal family and the royal family alone, no?

Don't think so as the current Japanese constitution supposedly also has a caveat that states that the heir must be a male. So the constitution would also need to rewritten as well.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

It is a common misconception that it is stipulated in the Japanese Constitution that the Emporer must be male. I dare anyone to read the constitution and find that stipulation. The only thing the constitution says specifically about the order of sucession, etc. is that it is to be decided by parliament (Chapter 1, Article 2).

EDIT: And as the constitution states that it is parliament's job to decide the imperial succession, and the parliament is elected by common citizens, it therefore becomes the entire country's business to decide. Not to mention that the Emporer is the "symbol of the country of Japan and the unification of its people". One would hope that the people would get at least some say in matters concerning their symbols.

 

[alt]

It is a common misconception that it is stipulated in the Japanese Constitution that the Emporer must be male. I dare anyone to read the constitution and find that stipulation. The only thing the constitution says specifically about the order of sucession, etc. is that it is to be decided by parliament (Chapter 1, Article 2).

EDIT: And as the constitution states that it is parliament's job to decide the imperial succession, and the parliament is elected by common citizens, it therefore becomes the entire country's business to decide. Not to mention that the Emporer is the "symbol of the country of Japan and the unification of its people". One would hope that the people would get at least some say in matters concerning their symbols.

FYI Here is a link that may interest you, with the following quote included;

but further restricted the succession to legitimate-born sons, grandsons, and male line descendants of an emperor.

Taken from;
Imperial Household Law

Which is subordinate to the Japanese Constitution.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I know what the Imperial Household Law is. Notice that it is not part of the constitution, but separate from it.

 

[shiroma]

I read this today

Originally Posted by Japantimes.co.jp
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006

Abe ally wants law ensuring male-only succession
Kyodo News
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hakubun Shimomura, a close ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Saturday an Imperial law should be revised "not so far in the future" to ensure a stable male-line succession of emperors.

It seems that they still are tied to the dark ages when it comes to equality when it comes to monarchies.

Yet another false criticism fooled by media disinformation tactics: huge difference between "male-line succession" and "male-only succession."
It is very well known by now that anti-Japan elements have infiltrated in Kyodo, not to mention a communist mouthpiece Asahi as well as New York Times.

related thread

 

[alt]

I know what the Imperial Household Law is. Notice that it is not part of the constitution, but separate from it.

Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan, promulgated in 1947 by influence of US occupation administration and still in force, provides that "The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial Household Law passed by the Diet." The Imperial Household Law of 16 January 1947, enacted by the ninety-second and last session of the Imperial Diet, retained the exclusion on female dynasts found in the 1889 law. The government of Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru hastily cobbled together the legislation to bring the Imperial Household in compliance with the American-written Constitution of Japan that went into effect in May 1947. In an effort to control the size of the imperial family, the law stipulates that only legitimate male descendants in the male line can be dynasts; that imperial princesses and princesses lose their status as Imperial Family members if they marry outside the Imperial Family; and that the Emperor and other members of the Imperial Family may not adopt children. It also prevented branches, other than the branch descending from Taisho, from being imperial princes any longer.

Taken from Emperor of Japan - Wikipedia

Sorry the previous link didnt work. But from reading this the constitution follows "succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial Household Law passed by the Diet" the heir will be a male.
Besides that if it wasnt a part of the consititution why would the diet even consider an amendment to the consititution to allow females to succeed in the case there is no male heir.

Seems to me that if it wasnt there in the first place it wouldn't need to have an amendment now would it?

The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial House Law passed by the Diet

That is Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan with regards to the Emperor.
The diet has the last word on the Imperial Household Law, also since the is included in the Consititution of Japan by default the Imperial Household Law is subject to the diet and constitution itself.

http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Japan/English/english-Constitution.html#CHAPTER_I

That is a link to an English translation of the constitution of Japan Chapter I The Emperor. It may be semantics but to the current or at least Koizumi government of Japan the issue was real enough that discussions were held to amend the constitution before the recent birth of the royal family.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

But from reading this the constitution follows "succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial Household Law passed by the Diet" the heir will be a male.
Besides that if it wasnt a part of the consititution why would the diet even consider an amendment to the consititution to allow females to succeed in the case there is no male heir.
Seems to me that if it wasnt there in the first place it wouldn't need to have an amendment now would it?
The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial House Law passed by the Diet
That is Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan with regards to the Emperor.
The diet has the last word on the Imperial Household Law, also since the is included in the Consititution of Japan by default the Imperial Household Law is subject to the diet and constitution itself.
http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Japan/English/english-Constitution.html#CHAPTER_I
That is a link to an English translation of the constitution of Japan Chapter I The Emperor. It may be semantics but to the current or at least Koizumi government of Japan the issue was real enough that discussions were held to amend the constitution before the recent birth of the royal family.

I will be honest in saying that I have only ever read the Japanese the Japanese text of the Consitution and the Imperial Household Law. I will further be honest in saying that I only know that the way to change the rules of succession are to change the Imperial Household LAW. Laws are infinately more easy to change than is the Constitution. There is absolutely no necessity to change or amend or alter the Constitution in any way whatsoever to allow women to assume the throne because the Constitution never dirties its hands with the problem

The reason why changing the system is so difficult has nothing to do with this, however because I have thus far only been commenting on procedural matters. The conservative interests who want to keep the status quo in terms of male succession are very powerful and influential. That is why.

In the Japanese newspapers that I read, I often hear of attempts to amend the Constitution. This is usually related to Article 9. I can not think of a single instance where the Constitution is directly mentioned as the target to an amendment regarding imperial succession. They always mention the Imperial Household Law. There is a distinction for a reason.

I am not trying to be a dick. I just think that people have a huge misunderstanding about this issue, and it bothers me a lot for some reason.

Incidentally, this is the longest post I've contributed to JREF in months! Thanks alt for giving me something to write about again!

 

[alt]

I There is a distinction for a reason.
I am not trying to be a dick. I just think that people have a huge misunderstanding about this issue, and it bothers me a lot for some reason.
Incidentally, this is the longest post I've contributed to JREF in months! Thanks alt for giving me something to write about again!

I think I should say you're welcome here.......bowing to you.

I still am somewhat confused in why any amendments are necessary in the first place with regards to the Imperial Household.

I will also admit that I think I misread or misintrepreted the Law as it is written. I was under the impression that it fell under the constitution itself.
Thanks for sharing your information and giving me something else to "study".

Edited to correct a typo...sorry about that

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I think the misunderstanding comes from the fact that the Meiji Constitution actually did specify that imperial succession would be exclusively male. However the current one does not. Perhaps people get the two confused?

The Imperial Household Law would have to be amended to allow female emporers because that is where it is stipulated that only males are elegible for succession.

If you're interested in Japanese law and you understand Japanese, I recommend going to any decent-sized book store and ask for a ROPPOU (ﾋ彁窶邸) This is a book with most current (as well as obsolete) laws written therein.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Mikawa Ossan is right.
The succession of a man of the Emperor is not mentioned in a constitution.
In one chapter of Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan,
"The Emperor is hereditary",
It is mentioned
http://www.houko.com/00/01/S21/000.HTM#s1
Imperial House Act
http://www.houko.com/00/01/S22/003.HTM#top

 

[alt]

Mikawa Ossan is right.
The succession of a man of the Emperor is not mentioned in a constitution.
In one chapter of Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan,
"The Emperor is hereditary",
It is mentioned
http://www.houko.com/00/01/S21/000.HTM#s1
Imperial House Act
http://www.houko.com/00/01/S22/003.HTM#top

Can either of you explain then why is the diet, or should I say why did the diet get all excited about the issue as a "constitutional issue" when by law shouldn't any respective changes regarding succession be coming from the Imperial Household first and not the Government itself?

Also since the line in the constitution states that the "Emperor is hereditary" then according to the current interpretation of the constitution there should not be any problems with a female ascending the throne.