Tokyo, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s revised Imperial House Law came into effect Saturday, allowing male, paternal-line descendants of former Imperial Family branches to be adopted into the Imperial Family, and female Imperial Family members to remain within the family after marriage. The government has stressed the significance of the law in addressing the declining number of Imperial Family members, but challenges remain, including differences in the status of female members and their husbands and children. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday to brief Emperor Naruhito on the revised law. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference that the free will of those involved should be respected under the new system. “We will take appropriate steps in implementing the system, with due consideration for those involved,” he said. Although female members who have left the Imperial Family upon marriage will continue to perform public duties, there are concerns about how to maintain family unity. Female members will be registered in both the Imperial lineage and the basic resident register. As they do not have a surname, their resident records will only include their first names. Their husbands and children will not be members of the Imperial Family, resulting in an unusual situation in which family members have different statuses. Some have also expressed concern that this could affect the Imperial Family’s political neutrality, as female members do not have the right to vote or stand for election, while their husbands and children do because they are ordinary citizens. Specific operational details remain undecided, such as whether husbands and children will take part in public duties and the extent to which they will be provided with security. While current female members will be able to choose whether to leave or remain in the Imperial Family upon marriage under a transitional measure, they may face psychological pressure as their decisions come under public scrutiny. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether any members of the former branches will come forward to be adopted into the Imperial Family. Those eligible for adoption are male descendants of the former branches aged 15 or older who have no spouse or children. According to experts, about 10 individuals from four of the 11 former branches may be eligible to be adopted. The common ancestor of male members of the former 11 branches, which left the Imperial Family in 1947, and the current Emperor lived about 600 years ago, during the Muromachi period. In such a situation, gaining public understanding may be difficult, with opposition parties saying that the two sides are “almost complete strangers.” There are also concerns that the adoption plan could constitute discrimination based on family origin, which is prohibited under the Constitution. While the revised law reflects the prime minister’s emphasis on maintaining male-line succession, fundamental issues surrounding Imperial succession, including the pros and cons of female Emperors, have been shelved. A supplementary Diet resolution said that the country should continue considering measures to ensure stable Imperial succession. While opposition parties have called for the establishment of a panel of experts, Kihara said that the government has no plans to set up such a panel immediately. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
