Princess Aiko remains excluded
The reform leaves Princess Aiko, the 24-year-old only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, ineligible to succeed her father.
Princess Aiko has become one of the most popular members of the Imperial Family, prompting growing public calls for the succession law to be changed so that she could become reigning empress.
Under the male-line rule, however, the throne will pass first to Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino.
Second in line is Akishino’s 19-year-old son, Prince Hisahito, the only eligible male heir of his generation.
Next in the line of succession is Prince Hitachi, Emperor Naruhito’s uncle and the younger brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.
The narrow succession line has fuelled concerns that the monarchy could face a severe continuity crisis if Prince Hisahito does not eventually have a son.
Conservatives defend paternal lineage
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other conservative politicians have strongly supported preserving the male-line succession system.
They regard an unbroken paternal lineage as central to the history and legitimacy of Japan’s monarchy and have resisted proposals to allow a reigning empress whose descendants could establish a maternal line.
Takaichi had previously called for deeper discussions among political parties over stable imperial succession and revisions to the Imperial House Law.
Supporters of the revised law say it offers a way to maintain the traditional succession system while increasing the number of royals available for ceremonial and public duties.
The adoption provision could bring men from former imperial branches into the household, although questions remain over whether suitable candidates would be willing to assume royal responsibilities.
Critics warn reform may deepen succession crisis
Royal observers and constitutional experts have warned that continuing to exclude women may leave the monarchy with too few eligible heirs.
They argue that adoption from distant male branches is less sustainable and less publicly acceptable than allowing the Emperor’s own daughter to succeed him.
Japan has had reigning empresses in its history, although traditionalists point out that they were regarded as temporary sovereigns and did not establish succession lines through their children.
Critics also say the reform reinforces gender inequality by allowing princesses to perform royal duties after marriage while denying them and their descendants any place in the succession.
The shrinking number of royals has already increased the workload placed on existing members of the family, all of whom are adults.
Debate unlikely to end
The legislation settles the immediate political debate by preserving male-line succession, but it is unlikely to end public discussion over the monarchy’s future.
Princess Aiko’s popularity and Prince Hisahito’s position as the sole young male heir have made the sustainability of the current system increasingly difficult to ignore.
Opinion among conservative lawmakers remains firmly in favour of maintaining the paternal line, while many members of the public support allowing a woman to inherit the throne.
The revised law therefore expands the pool of people who may serve the Imperial Family without changing the central rule at the heart of Japan’s succession dilemma.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nationthailand.com ’
