Japan’s imperial family is facing a succession crisis, with only three eligible heirs to the Chrysanthemum throne. The government has proposed reinstating former branches of the royal family to expand the pool of male successors, but some scholars and citizens are wondering why women can’t become emperor.

History of Female Emperors

Japan previously had eight empresses, mostly when the male heirs were too young to rule, until the Imperial House Law was enacted in 1889. Professor Makoto Okawa, who studies imperial lineage at Chuo University in Tokyo, says that the country’s constitution does not bar women from taking the throne, and that the idea of excluding women is plain misogyny.

The current emperor, Naruhito, has a daughter, Princess Aiko, who is legally barred by gender from inheriting the throne. The government’s proposed amendments do not contain a single scenario where a princess can ascend to the throne. Some residents, like Kana Sakakura, point out that countries in Europe, such as the UK, have long histories of female monarchs.

Tradition and Stability

However, others, like Tsuneyasu Takeda, a descendant of a former collateral imperial branch, believe that tradition should not be overturned by a popularity contest. They argue that the monarch’s role is a powerful symbol of unity in the country, and that changing the succession rules could shake the foundations of Japan.

The imperial family’s centrality to the nation is such that US army general Douglas MacArthur, overseeing Japan’s development after World War II, described the emperor as a symbol that unites all Japanese. The family’s role is largely ceremonial, but it is a powerful symbol of national identity.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.