The last hope for the survival of Japan’s imperial family under the Imperial Household Law, which dates back to 1947, celebrated its 18th birthday on Friday, September 6.
Prince Hisahito, the last hope for the survival of the Japanese imperial family, celebrated his 18th birthday this Friday, September 6. In doing so, he became the first male member of the royal family to come of age in almost four decades, underscoring the existential problems facing the rest of the country as well: an aging population and falling birthrate.
Hisahito, the nephew of current Emperor Naruhito (age 64), is the youngest of Japan’s adult imperial family of 17 members. He is also one of four males in the family and is second in line to the throne after his father, Crown Prince Akishino. Who, now 58, was the last male in the family to come of age in 1985.
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Only men ascend the throne
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito certainly has an only daughter, Princess Aiko, 22, but who cannot claim the throne. Indeed, the Imperial Household Law, which dates back to 1947, reserves the Japanese throne exclusively for male heirs.
Nevertheless, parliamentary work began in May to discuss a possible relaxation of the rules of imperial succession. However, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PLD, conservative right) strongly opposes abandoning the patrilineal system. And this despite the fact that nine out of ten Japanese people say they are in favor of a woman being able to access the throne, according to a recent poll by Kyodo news agency, as cited by AFP.
Apart from Prince Hisahito and his father, the only other heir to the Japanese throne, known as the “Chrysanthemum Throne”, is the emperor’s uncle, Prince Hitachi. The latter is 88 years old and has no children.
Source: Le Figaro
