Japan’s imperial family is facing a succession crisis, with only three eligible heirs to the throne. The government has proposed reinstating former branches of the royal family to expand the pool of male successors. However, some scholars and citizens are questioning why women cannot become emperor, given the country’s history of female emperors.

Historical Context

Japan’s monarchy has traditionally maintained male-only succession, but this rule has come under scrutiny as the imperial family faces a shortage of male heirs. The Imperial House Law, enacted in 1889, officially banned female emperors, but some argue that this law is no longer relevant in modern Japan.

Professor Makoto Okawa, who studies imperial lineage at Chuo University in Tokyo, notes that the idea of excluding women from the throne is based on misogyny. He argues that the constitution does not bar women from taking the throne and that the exclusion of women is not a Japanese tradition.

Proposed Solution

The government’s proposed amendments aim to allow the imperial family to ‘adopt’ members of former collateral branches who are 15 years old or above, unmarried, and childless. However, this solution has been criticized as a short-term fix that does not address the underlying issue of female succession.

Some citizens, like Kana Sakakura, point out that other countries, such as the UK, have a history of female monarchs. They argue that Japan should consider allowing women to take the throne to ensure the stability of the imperial family.

However, others, like Tsuneyasu Takeda, a descendant of a former collateral imperial branch, believe that tradition should not be overturned by popular opinion. He argues that the male-only lineage is essential to the monarchy’s stability and that changing it could have unintended consequences.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.