Latest news with #ImperialHouseholdLaw
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Japan's favourite ex-princess, Mako Komuro, has given birth to her first child, says Imperial Household Agency
Mako Komuro, Crown Prince Fumihito's eldest daughter, with her now-husband Kei Komuro at a press conference to announce their engagement in Tokyo in 2017. - PHOTO: AFP TOKYO (Japan News/ANN): Mako Komuro, Crown Prince Fumihito's eldest daughter who married out of the imperial family, gave birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency said on Friday (May 30). According to the agency, the former princess' parents are delighted at the birth of their first grandchild and are wishing for the happiness of their 33-year-old daughter and her family. Naomasa Yoshida, the top aide to the crown prince's family, said in a press conference in the city that the family is 'delighted and wishes days of happiness' for the former princess' family. The former princess, a big favourite with the Japanese people, married her university sweetheart, Kei Komuro in October 2021 and has since moved to New York, where her husband works as a lawyer. After marrying outside the imperial family in October 2021, she gave up her title as required by the Imperial Household Law. -- JAPAN NEWS/Asian News Network
Yomiuri Shimbun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
System of Emperor as Symbol of the State: Place Highest Priority on Maintaining Imperial Lineage / Don't Rule out Women, Female-line Emperors
It is the wish of many people that the Imperial family, which has preserved and passed on Japanese traditions and culture and has always reached out to the people, should continue to exist. However, the decrease in the number of Imperial family members is serious. If this situation continues, there are fears of the Imperial family system itself coming to a standstill. What should be prioritized above all else is the continuation of the Imperial lineage. Realistic measures must be taken to achieve this goal. The Yomiuri Shimbun has compiled a set of proposals on the revision of the Imperial House Law. It calls for the establishment of Imperial branches, which will enable female members to remain in the Imperial family after marriage and become the heads of those branches, to ensure the number of Imperial family members. Imperial family system at a crossroads In addition, the proposals call for systemic reform with a view to the possibility of a female emperor and also an emperor who accedes to the throne via a maternal family line. The Emperor not only performs his duties, including traditional rituals and acts in matters of state, but also plays a major role in international goodwill. The Emperor has frequently visited the battlefields of the Pacific War to mourn the war dead. He has also continued activities such as visiting the affected areas and listening to the voices of the victims whenever a major disaster occurs in Japan. Many of the people must have derived courage and peace of mind from how the Emperor has prayed for peace and order in society. In light of the situation in which the current Imperial family is deeply loved and respected, the proposals call for a review of the Imperial family system based on the premise of maintaining the system that positions the Emperor as the symbol of the state. The Imperial family system is currently at a crossroads. The number of Imperial family members, which stood at 26 three decades ago, is now down to 16. Moreover, five unmarried female members of the Imperial family, including Princess Aiko, 23, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, and Princess Kako, 30, the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, will be required to leave the Imperial family in accordance with the current Imperial House Law if they marry a man outside the Imperial family. The official duties of the Imperial family range from entertaining overseas guests and invitees at Imperial banquets and garden parties, to attending sports and cultural events. If the decrease in the number of Imperial family members is left unattended, it will become difficult to continue these activities. The Imperial Household Law should be revised as soon as possible to allow female members to remain in the Imperial family after marriage, and the creation of female Imperial branches should be made possible. However, unmarried female members of the Imperial family have so far led their lives on the premise that they will leave the Imperial family after marriage. If this premise is to be changed, it is also important to show them the consideration of allowing them to choose for themselves whether to remain in the Imperial family. In order for the Imperial family to continue to exist, it is essential that succession to the Imperial throne take place in a stable manner. Under the current Imperial House Law, the Imperial succession is limited to male offspring in the family's paternal line. Currently, only three members are eligible to succeed to the throne: Crown Prince Akishino, 59; Prince Hisahito, 18, the eldest son of Crown Prince Akishino; and Prince Hitachi, 89, the younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus. On the premise of the current system, if Prince Hisahito has no male child after marriage, there would be no one to succeed to the Imperial throne. Bring spouses, children into Imperial family If the Imperial family continues to stick to male offspring in the family's paternal line, the continued existence of the system that recognizes the Emperor as the symbol of the state will be in jeopardy. The possibility of a female emperor, or an emperor in the family's maternal line, should not be ruled out. There have been eight female emperors in history. In addition, the current Constitution only stipulates hereditary Imperial succession. The government also has the interpretation that it is 'constitutionally possible' for there to be a female emperor, or an emperor in the family's maternal line. In the discussions between the ruling and opposition parties under the chairmanship of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the House of Councillors, there is general agreement among the parties on the creation of female Imperial branches. However, they differ over whether the husbands and children of female members should be members of the Imperial family. The Liberal Democratic Party, which attaches importance to succession to the throne by male offspring in the family's paternal line, is cautious about including spouses and others as Imperial family members. This is because there is a possibility that the children of female members will become maternal-line emperors in the future. In contrast, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan argues that it would be natural to treat those spouses and children in the same way that female members are treated now. If those spouses and others were to be treated as ordinary citizens rather than Imperial family members, they would be able to freely express their opinions and engage in political and religious activities. As a result, concerns may arise that the Imperial family would be used for political purposes or that the dignity of the Imperial family would be damaged. Don't disregard human rights The LDP has also proposed returning paternal-line male offspring of the 11 branches that left Imperial status after the end of World War II to the Imperial family as the adopted children of current Imperial family members, as a means of ensuring the number of successors to the throne. However, these people in the former branches have long lived as ordinary citizens since the end of the war. Will it be possible to obtain public understanding for suddenly making them eligible to succeed to the throne? The Constitution stipulates that the position of the Emperor is based on 'the will of the people.' Within the LDP, some have suggested that paternal-line male offspring of the former branches who would return to the Imperial family could be marriage partners for the female members of the Imperial family. However, if the will of the female members of the Imperial family is not respected and their potential marriage partners are systematically limited, human rights issues will arise. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 15, 2025)
Khaleej Times
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Teen heir to Japanese throne says marriage not on his mind
Prince Hisahito, the Japanese imperial family's last hope for the monarchy's long-term survival — unless succession rules change — said marriage is not on his mind yet in his first press conference on Monday. Only males can ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne and women leave the imperial family if they marry a commoner, with their offspring having no royal status. But Hisahito, who turned 18 in September and is second in line to become emperor after his father, said it was much too early for him to consider tying the knot. "Regarding marriage, I have not yet thought deeply about the ideal time or partner," Hisahito told reporters. Hisahito is the only son of Crown Prince Akishino, 59 — the brother of Emperor Naruhito, 65 — and Crown Princess Kiko, 58. Naruhito's daughter, Aiko, 23, cannot succeed her father under the Imperial Household Law, in place since 1947, because of her gender. Hisahito also told his first news conference — foreign media were excluded — that he enjoys observing insects and plants as well as growing vegetables and rice in his private time. He is also "concerned about the impact (of climate change) on people's lives". "I feel nervous talking to you all," he said, adding he will consider the possibility of studying abroad like his family members have done. "As a young member of the Imperial Family, I am determined to fulfil my role," Hisahito said. The imperial family, whose history according to legend goes back 2,600 years, formally renounced its divine status after Japan's defeat in World War II and it has no political power. Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 due to his age and poor health, is credited with modernising the institution. Lawmakers last year began discussing possible relaxations to the strict succession rules, and a Kyodo News poll found 90 percent public support for female succession. "Stabilising the number of members of the imperial family is a particularly urgent issue," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in October, calling for active debate on the issue. But resistance among conservative MPs, who revere the royals as the perfect example of a patriarchal Japanese family, makes that change unlikely any time soon. In October, a UN committee said Japan should "guarantee the equality of women and men in the succession to the throne" in line with "good practices" in other monarchies. Japan demanded that the committee withdraw its recommendation, saying that the right to succeed the throne was unrelated to human rights and gender discrimination. In January it said it would not fund a UN women's rights committee and suspended a member's visit over the issue.
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Teen Heir to Japanese Throne Says Marriage Not on his Mind
Prince Hisahito, the Japanese imperial family's last hope for the monarchy's long-term survival -- unless succession rules change -- said marriage is not on his mind yet in his first press conference on Monday. Only males can ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne and women leave the imperial family if they marry a commoner, with their offspring having no royal status. But Hisahito, who turned 18 in September and is second in line to become emperor after his father, said it was much too early for him to consider tying the knot. "Regarding marriage, I have not yet thought deeply about the ideal time or partner," Hisahito told reporters, according to AFP. Hisahito is the only son of Crown Prince Akishino, 59 -- the brother of Emperor Naruhito, 65 -- and Crown Princess Kiko, 58. Naruhito's daughter, Aiko, 23, cannot succeed her father under the Imperial Household Law, in place since 1947, because of her gender. Hisahito also told his first news conference -- foreign media were excluded -- that he enjoys observing insects and plants as well as growing vegetables and rice in his private time. He is also "concerned about the impact (of climate change) on people's lives". "I feel nervous talking to you all," he said, adding he will consider the possibility of studying abroad like his family members have done. "As a young member of the Imperial Family, I am determined to fulfil my role," Hisahito said. The imperial family, whose history according to legend goes back 2,600 years, formally renounced its divine status after Japan's defeat in World War II and it has no political power. Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 due to his age and poor health, is credited with modernizing the institution. Lawmakers last year began discussing possible relaxations to the strict succession rules, and a Kyodo News poll found 90 percent public support for female succession.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teen heir to Japanese throne says marriage not on his mind
Prince Hisahito, the Japanese imperial family's last hope for the monarchy's long-term survival -- unless succession rules change -- said marriage is not on his mind yet in his first press conference on Monday. Only males can ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne and women leave the imperial family if they marry a commoner, with their offspring having no royal status. But Hisahito, who turned 18 in September and is second in line to become emperor after his father, said it was much too early for him to consider tying the knot. "Regarding marriage, I have not yet thought deeply about the ideal time or partner," Hisahito told reporters. Hisahito is the only son of Crown Prince Akishino, 59 -- the brother of Emperor Naruhito, 65 -- and Crown Princess Kiko, 58. Naruhito's daughter, Aiko, 23, cannot succeed her father under the Imperial Household Law, in place since 1947, because of her gender. Hisahito also told his first news conference -- foreign media were excluded -- that he enjoys observing insects and plants as well as growing vegetables and rice in his private time. He is also "concerned about the impact (of climate change) on people's lives". "I feel nervous talking to you all," he said, adding he will consider the possibility of studying abroad like his family members have done. "As a young member of the Imperial Family, I am determined to fulfil my role," Hisahito said. The imperial family, whose history according to legend goes back 2,600 years, formally renounced its divine status after Japan's defeat in World War II and it has no political power. Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 due to his age and poor health, is credited with modernising the institution. Lawmakers last year began discussing possible relaxations to the strict succession rules, and a Kyodo News poll found 90 percent public support for female succession. "Stabilising the number of members of the imperial family is a particularly urgent issue," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in October, calling for active debate on the issue. But resistance among conservative MPs, who revere the royals as the perfect example of a patriarchal Japanese family, makes that change unlikely any time soon. In October, a UN committee said Japan should "guarantee the equality of women and men in the succession to the throne" in line with "good practices" in other monarchies. Japan demanded that the committee withdraw its recommendation, saying that the right to succeed the throne was unrelated to human rights and gender discrimination. In January it said it would not fund a UN women's rights committee and suspended a member's visit over the issue. nf/stu/dhc
