Japan PM opposes changing male-only imperial succession
The Straits Times
Under the post-war Constitution, the royal family holds no political power. Read more at straitstimes.com.
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Parliament on Feb 27 that she opposes changing the imperial family’s male succession rules.
The comments are her clearest on the issue – the subject of increasing debate as a succession crisis looms – since her party’s landslide election victory in February.
Ms Takaichi said she respected the conclusion of a panel of experts who had discussed the matter and found in 2021 that it was “appropriate to limit eligibility to those who are male-line male descendants belonging to the imperial lineage”.
“The government, and I, myself as well, respect this report.”
The Prime Minister previously warned that revising the imperial family’s succession rules is “an urgent matter”, although this would likely involve “adopting” new members.
During a previous policy speech, she said that she hoped “discussions will deepen on how to ensure stable imperial succession... leading toward the revision of the Imperial House Law”.
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