Tokyo, July 17 (Jiji Press)–Shingo Haketa, the 84-year-old former grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, has called for prompt efforts to ensure a stable succession to the throne. Haketa, who served in the position from 2005 to 2012, made the remark in an interview before the Diet passed a bill revising the Imperial House Law on Friday. Haketa acknowledged that the bill “prepared a system for married female Imperial Family members to remain in the institution and support it at a time when Prince Hisahito is the only young male member of the Imperial Family.” However, he added that the Imperial succession crisis has not been resolved. “If Prince Hisahito marries but does not have a son, someone from the paternal line of former Imperial Family branches would succeed to the throne, but even in that case, problems would remain regarding the stability of Imperial succession and public understanding,” he explained. “Therefore, discussions should begin as soon as possible to find the best solution that can gain public understanding,” Haketa stressed. Haketa referred to the failure in 2011, under the tenure of then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, to introduce Imperial Family branches led by female members. “The situation is now even more serious due to subsequent marriages and deaths of female Imperial Family members,” he said. When then Emperor Akihito fell ill in 2008, Haketa said at a press conference that his poor health could be attributed to his concerns about Imperial succession. “I openly explained that the Emperor was feeling responsible for and worried about the lack of prospects for stable Imperial succession in the future,” Haketa said. He noted that the former Emperor, now Emperor Emeritus Akihito, “showed his heart to people who were in difficult situations” after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. “I was convinced that that was how the symbolic role of the Emperor should be.” “The current Emperor (Naruhito) inherited this attitude and is receiving support and sympathy from the people,” Haketa added. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Ex-Top Imperial Family Aide Calls for Prompt Efforts on Succession
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