No Plans to Set Up New Panel on Imperial Succession Now: Takaichi

(A typo in the sixth paragraph has been corrected. The seventh paragraph should have read “…on a planned tax cut. …”) No Plans to Set Up New Panel on Imperial Succession Now: Takaichi Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that she has no plans to set up a new expert panel now to discuss the Imperial succession issue and the possibility of a female or maternal-line Emperor. Takaichi made the remark after Takeshi Shina, secretary-general of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, proposed establishing the panel at an off-session meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives. The prime minister indicated that it is too early to hold concrete discussions on Imperial succession beyond Prince Hisahito, the only young male member of the Imperial Family at present. “Discussions should be deepened based on Prince Hisahito’s circumstances, including his age and potential marriage,” she said. Takaichi also said that the government will implement the revised Imperial House Law, enacted earlier this month, while respecting the wishes of the Diet. Meanwhile, Yuichi Goto of the CRA questioned Takaichi about her secretary’s alleged involvement in a virtual currency known as “Sanae Token.” “My office has never approved it,” Takaichi responded. “Neither the secretary nor I knew that the crypto asset would be issued and traded.” Shinji Nagatomo of the opposition Democratic Party for the People asked about the prime minister’s position on a planned tax cut. Takaichi noted that she will wait for the working-level panel of the suprapartisan National Council on Social Security to reach a conclusion soon. The Lower House committee meeting was initially scheduled for Friday but postponed due to a delay in Diet proceedings that day. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]