According to Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on the 1st that he was deeply sorry that the U.N. Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended issues related to the basics of the country, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosimasa Hayashi also said that it is not related to human rights. The far-right Japanese Restoration Party also protested that the issue of succession to the throne is a matter of culture and history of the country. The U.N. Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended a revision of the royal war criminal, which allows only men to succeed to the throne, after reviewing the Japanese government’s women’s policy at the U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland on the 29th (local time). The committee recommended the same in 2003, 2009, and 2016. However, the Japanese government delegation protested, saying, “It is inappropriate for the Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to deal with royal war criminals” and demanded that the part be deleted.
According to Japanese royal court rules, female royalty must give up their royal status after marriage. Therefore, they cannot inherit the throne. Former Princess Sayako, sister of Emperor Naruhito, left the royal registration after marrying an ordinary man and followed her husband’s surname. Recently, Mako, the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito, took the same move. Some in Japan say that women should be allowed to maintain their royal registration after marriage and be entitled to succeed the throne.
Currently, only three royals are eligible for the throne in Japan, and the average age of the royal family has aged to 60.2. As of 1994, the number of royals was 26, but it has decreased to 17, and when the princesses marry, their royal status will disappear and will be reduced further.
Emperor Naruhito has no children other than Princess Aiko, and in this case, Prince Hisahito, the only son of Crown Prince Fumihito, who is second in line for succession, is likely to become the next king. However, the reputation of the royal family in Japan is negative due to the controversy over the marriage of former Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of the crown prince. On the contrary, Princess Aiko is loved by the people with her unique humble appearance. According to a poll in April that surveyed the perception of succession to the throne, about 90% of the respondents said they could recognize the queen, drawing attention.
However, as the possibility of revising the royal war criminal has become slim this time, analysts say that he is unlikely to succeed his father. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Ishiba had been in a position to “discuss the succession of the women’s throne” before taking office, but has been reticent since taking office due to pressure from opponents within the Liberal Democratic Party.
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
