Should the Emperor be Abolished?

[storeyinallinanyways]

Could I venture that perhaps the reason that some American's don't understand the British fascination with the monarchy and have an aversion to monarchy in general is because;

a) The US doesn't have one and,
b) The US spent so long under the rule of the British monarchy that it has developed an aversion to the concept?

Maybe this is implicit in your post GEL, if so apologies!

You have to remember that the monarchy in Britain dates back hundreds of years and love for / pride in the Royal Family is almost inbuilt in British people (ok, perhaps in the younger generations less so)

These days, the younger Royals like William and Harry are more like celebrities first, royal second.

Just my thoughts...

As for the topic at hand, I am neutral on the subject too, as I am neutral on whether or not Britain should get rid of the monarchy.

My question is, does the Emperor / Crown Prince actively undertake action to preserve the culture / history of the country? If not then it may be feasible that this be separated from the office of Emperor?

 

[GodEmperorLeto]

Maybe this is implicit in your post GEL, if so apologies!

I assumed it was, but if it wasn't, you clarified it anyway. No harm, no foul.

My question is, does the Emperor / Crown Prince actively undertake action to preserve the culture / history of the country?

This is actually a really important thing to consider. This issue keeps reminding me of how I have to read Mishima's Patriotism, too, by the way. The emperor is no longer considered a god/demigod but nevertheless, he is an important link to Japan's history because he can be percieved as the living descendant of Amaterasu. The question is, how much influence does royalty have in politics, and what can he do?
Although he is a figurehead, there is much he can do as the voice of Japan's history, culture, and morals. He can speak publicly, and sway the opinions and ideas of the populace. This depends, heavily, on his own personal charisma, and also how seriously the government takes him, but these are all variables.

Edit: Although I linked it elsewhere, it's kind of relevant here.

The United States did have an emperor. Emperor Norton I.

 

[SweetMusic]

You know i'm not fond of the British Royalty, but i think an Emperor is something Japan needs, I do think that a well respected Royal can help to bring the people of a country together, perticuly in times of crises. At the same time, i think the fact that the Emperor/King is more oftain that not held in importance above the common people and that in my opinion is wrong, after all an Emperor/King is nothing if he has no people to rule............sorry I'm being general.
What i mean to say is, i think that a head figure like an Emperor is important to keep the country together morally, but i think oftain there importance is blown out of proprtion.

 

[Pepe]

You know i'm not fond of the British Royalty, but i think an Emperor is something Japan needs, I do think that a well respected Royal can help to bring the people of a country together, perticuly in times of crises. At the same time, i think the fact that the Emperor/King is more oftain that not held in importance above the common people and that in my opinion is wrong, after all an Emperor/King is nothing if he has no people to rule............sorry I'm being general.
What i mean to say is, i think that a head figure like an Emperor is important to keep the country together morally, but i think oftain there importance is blown out of proprtion.

Ditto (minus the spelling errors )

 

[SweetMusic]

Ditto (minus the spelling errors )

Sorry I'm really bad at typing and i have a habit of typing without thinking and spelling everything wrong I swear my buttons are attached to the wrong letters

 

[KirinMan]

Off topic reply here;

I swear my buttons are attached to the wrong letters

Really, for me I always feel like by fingers are attached to the wrong buttons.

On topic;

What i mean to say is, i think that a head figure like an Emperor is important to keep the country together morally, but i think oftain there importance is blown out of proprtion.

However to many Japanese people that I know the Emperor is a living link to their long and historied past. He is a welcome reminder of the rich traditions of Japan.

I hope the Emperor system here is never abolished, just updated to include women in the direct line to the throne. To do that in my opinion, would greatly increase the prestige and respect for the throne not only here in Japan but throughout the world as well.

 

[caster51]

he prays for ppl every day
his role is to pray, too
Shinto Portal - IJCC, Kokugakuin University
新嘗祭 - Wikipedia

 

[Uchite]

No indeed. The Emperor is part of Japan's history and heritage.

 

[caster51]

I hope the Emperor system here is never abolished, just updated to include women in the direct line to the throne. To do that in my opinion, would greatly increase the prestige and respect for the throne not only here in Japan but throughout the world as well.

i dont want new dynasty.
It means Japan give up Today's dynasty of 2600 years

 

[KirinMan]

i dont want new dynasty.
It means Japan give up Today's dynasty of 2600 years

Great, that's your opinion and I disagree with you, also like it or not it is a fact that there have been female emperor's before.

And not to get into an argument about it here I will just add this I hope there will be again in the future as well.

Something about this post here is like ............deja vou....seems to me like I've read nearly the exact statement here before somewhere on this forum.

 

[caster51]

Great, that's your opinion and I disagree with you, also like it or not it is a fact that there have been female emperor's before.
And not to get into an argument about it here I will just add this I hope there will be again in the future as well.
Something about this post here is like ............deja vou....seems to me like I've read nearly the exact statement here before somewhere on this forum.

I welcome the female Emperor. I like it
but I dont want their kids to become the Emperor.
because male line is changed though imperial system is kept.
that is, new dynasy starts for her husband in male line.
distinguish between the female emperor and the emperor in female line
so, the female emperor is OK because she is in male line
the emperor is female line in not good

 

[KirinMan]

I welcome the female Emperor. I like it
but I dont want their kids to become the Emperor.
because male line is changed though imperial system is kept.
that is, new dynasy starts for her husband in male line.
distinguish between the female emperor and the emperor in female line
so, the female emperor is OK because she is in male line
the emperor is female line in not good

Let's see here, for discussion's sake only ok, let's say that Aiko-sama becomes the next Emperess of Japan. She gets married and has a male son, he becomes the next Emperor of Japan, everyone with me so far?

There is still a direct connection to the preceeding Emperors through Aiko-sama right? So he has children, let's assume that his first born is a girl as well, she assumes the throne in time the line is still connected, however not through a man but a woman right.

If one doesn't recognize her children as being a part of the same lineage then in my opinion I would think that anyone who believes that there is no longer a direct connection or lineage is being sexist.

Lineage can be followed through a woman as well as a man.

I welcome the female Emperor. I like it

Great I am glad you feel that way. , Yet the current laws regarding the "parentage" of children here in Japan,which I personally feel that they are sexist and discrimanatory towards women in general, are outdated and need to be changed to show the importance of women here in 21st century Japan.

 

[caster51]

If one doesn't recognize her children as being a part of the same lineage then in my opinion I would think that anyone who believes that there is no longer a direct connection or lineage is being sexist

it is called Ekisei-kakumei
Japan follws same way of Romanov
House of Romanov - Wikipedia.
new husband line will be main stream of japanese Emperor in the future because all ppl have One male line connected from ancient.
the female emperor's kid does not need a emperor, either.

I personally feel that they are sexist and discrimanatory towards women in general

it is nothing to do with discrimination.
it is a tradition for 2600 years
even if it is myth, no one can not follow like that

 

[KirinMan]

it is called Ekisei-kakumei
Japan follws same way of Romanov
House of Romanov - Wikipedia.
new husband line will be main stream of japanese Emperor in the future because all ppl have One male line connected from ancient.
the female emperor's kid does not need a emperor, either.
it is nothing to do with discrimination.
it is a tradition for 2600 years

Mmm Caster unless you may have missed it Romanov no longer exists, and it is a form of discrimination.

Historically Japan has not recognized women as being equal to men and in my opinion still lags behind the west.

 

[caster51]

Historically Japan has not recognized women as being equal to men and in my opinion still lags behind the west

have you ever heard Japanese women's position before Meiji Era
A Comparison of Japanese and European Cultures - Everything2.com
1)The property is shared in Europe among married couples. Everybody owns his amount in Japan. The wife lends it to the husband by high interest at times
2)Divorcing is a crime and it is the most dishonorable in Europe
in Japan women can divorce many times, and the wife is able not to lose honor and to marry by that.
3)it is usual that a hasband make to divorce a wife because of her dirty innate disposition in Europe
4)The woman usually prepares meal in Europe.
The man makes it in Japan. And, nobles think going to the kitchen to cook to be splendid.
5)It is thought that the woman's drinking wine in Europe loses the decorum
It drinks until often getting drunk when it is a festival in Japan in the very
usualness


japan was influenced by bad one..

 

[EmperorHirohito]

My view is very simple, dont aboloish the Emperor just because it is Politically Correct or you think the country would be better off without one. Sometimes its best not to interfere with tradition, and Japan is a prime example as is the British monarchy. I live in a country that does have a monanrch and does help bring a lot of much needeed revenue in to this country from tourists visiting to watch our famous state occasions.

Around the world there are loads of countries that still do have constitutional monarchs and its seems as if people in those countries are quite ok with the present status quo.

So dont change, leave things alone, it may be better in the end, you never know.

 

[caster51]

Caster unless you may have missed it Romanov no longer exists, and it is a form of discrimination.

before that why was Romanov changed like The Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov Dynasty.
it is omen to ruin

 

[KirinMan]

have you ever heard Japanese women's position before Meiji Era
A Comparison of Japanese and European Cultures - Everything2.com
1)The property is shared in Europe among married couples. Everybody owns his amount in Japan. The wife lends it to the husband by high interest at times
2)Divorcing is a crime and it is the most dishonorable in Europe
in Japan women can divorce many times, and the wife is able not to lose honor and to marry by that.
3)it is usual that a hasband make to divorce a wife because of her dirty innate disposition in Europe
4)The woman usually prepares meal in Europe.
The man makes it in Japan. And, nobles think going to the kitchen to cook to be splendid.
5)It is thought that the woman's drinking wine in Europe loses the decorum
It drinks until often getting drunk when it is a festival in Japan in the very
usualness
japan was influenced by bad one..

Caster I am talking about the 21st Century.

Hold on here a second, aren't you the one that was just talking about how much Japan does things on it's own, and now you are saying that Japan was influenced by "bad one"?

Which is it?

 

[caster51]

Caster I am talking about the 21st Century

it is a same even though it is in 23rd century
it is a japanese society's Identity.
if so, it would disappear 500 years ago like each shogunate ....and we dont need the Emperor
i think it is your arrogance to other culture, tradition and history.

 

[Mycernius]

I'm not sure, but if the Japanese emporer has the same sort of status as the British Queen then the title and position must be kept. It is a case of not what they can't do, but the powers they do hold that keeps it out of the hands of the politicians. The monarch in the UK is non-political.
Incidently when the US became independant and the war was over congress did try to make George Washington a King. He refused and the US remained a republic. As for the UK, we tried republicanism once and we didn't like it. Cromwell became king in all but name and once he was gone we decided to bring the monarchy back.

 

[KirinMan]

i think it is your arrogance to other culture, tradition and history.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt for not understanding my point.

 

[GodEmperorLeto]

Incidently when the US became independant and the war was over congress did try to make George Washington a King.

There was talk of that, but I am not sure how serious it was. Most of the people here were too heavily influenced by John Locke to grant him supreme executive power, and at best it would have been a constitutional monarchy.

As for Emperor Norton, well, Congress and the U.S. military pretty much ignored his just and lawful claims.

As for the UK, we tried republicanism once and we didn't like it. Cromwell became king in all but name and once he was gone we decided to bring the monarchy back.

Cromwell wasn't quite a republican leader. If the United States was Lockesque, Cromwell's Puritan government was most certainly Hobbesian. Most American textbooks consider him a dictator.

 

[Mycernius]

Essentially he was a military dictator. He wielded more power than a monarch, which is probably why parliment offered him the crown. As a king his powers would have been more restricted. He is still hated by the Irish and I don't really blame them.

 

[Sukotto]

interestingly, just last night on the Daily Show the guest was some guy from BBC and he had written a book on the British monarchy.

while not necessarily advocating for its existance, he had this interesting point about the monarch: the monarchy is a sort of national symbol. having this prevents politicians from attempting to become one themselves.

***my vote?***
i have decided i do not care one way or another if another group of people decide to have a symbolic figure such as emperor or queen. some countries elect a president for this while at the same time have a prime minister. if i am not mistaken, East Timor's president is like this, largely symbolic.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

Sukotto thats a very valid point, a monarch can do a great deal to prevent a left wing or extreme right wing politican from becoming too powerfull, and no monarch would want to be replaced by a jumped up politican.