Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
Speaker of the Lower House Fukushiro Nukaga (left) and Vice Speaker Koichiro Gemba attend a press conference on April 17 after the general meeting on the Imperial House Law Special Measures Bill. (©Sankei by Shunsuke Sakamaki)
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Japan's parliament is working to ensure there are sufficient Imperial Family members for stable succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The speakers and vice speakers of the two houses of the Diet plan to compile a draft plan on succession specifically for this purpose. They will then submit the plan to each political party in the Diet.
The government must reach a legislative consensus based on the overriding principle of male-line succession to the throne. From there, it must move forward with revising the Imperial House Law.
What the Diet is Considering
Discussions have been proceeding in the Diet based on a report submitted by the government in 2022. That report stated that the flow of Imperial Succession from His Majesty the Emperor to Crown Prince Akishino and then to Prince Hisahito "must not be compromised."
It also included the following two proposals:
- Female members of the Imperial Family would retain their imperial status even after marriage. However, their spouses and children would not be considered members of the Imperial Family.
- Male descendants of former Imperial Family members could return to the Imperial Family through adoption or other means.
Eight major parties and parliamentary groups favor the contents of the government report. They include the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), Democratic Party for the People, and the Yuushi no Kai (Volunteer Party). As soon as possible, we would like to see agreement on a finalized draft incorporating all its points.
Point 2 of the report is the most important change. It would increase the number of male members of the Imperial Family with the right of succession and ensure a stable succession through the male line that would protect the foundations of Japan.
Correcting the Occupation-era Imperial Family Breakup
In April, the government announced that there were unmarried descendants in the male lineages of four former collateral imperial lines. This revelation has great significance. They are male descendants of Prince Kuni, Prince Higashikuni, Prince Kaya, and Prince Takeda.
These former branches of the Imperial House are offshoots of the Fushiminomiya family, whose heads were given the title of prince and princess by successive emperors over six centuries to protect the imperial line.
Male members of these former Imperial Families were eligible to inherit the throne until October 1947. Then, they were demoted to commoner status under the Occupation-era postwar Constitution, which still stands today.
Now, however, the continuity of the imperial line is under threat. The only viable solution is for male members of these collateral lines to be called on to assume the important duties of the Imperial Family as needed.
Imperial Succession Through the Male Line
Repeated instances of succession based on the principle that the Imperial Throne is passed down through the male line have fostered legitimacy and prevented usurpation.
There is one cause for concern, however. That is the presence of Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) leader Yoshihiko Noda and others who have been blocking the conclusion of an agreement on imperial succession.
The CDP's own written opinion only calls for "clarification of the issues" and does not go so far as to deny the conclusions of the government report. However, during discussions in the Diet, Noda disagreed with the contents of the government report. He has now become a leading figure in opposing it. But, in doing so, he has gone too far.
The 'Spouses and Children' Question
Furthermore, Noda and people like him appear to want to recognize the spouses and children of female members of the Imperial Family as full members of the Imperial House. That should not happen.
It would be an unprecedented change in the scope of the Imperial Family. Moreover, it would inevitably result in matrilineal succession to the throne. That would constitute a dangerous "Trojan horse" that could end Japan's imperial line, which has consistently passed down through the male line.
Hopefully, the CDP will stop its current machinations. They contradict the respect for history and tradition espoused in CDP's own report. Instead, we hope Noda and his party will move toward cooperation with the eight parties and parliamentary groups.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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