Japanese Crown Prince expresses mixed feelings on male-only succession law

Tokyo – Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito and heir apparent, said he has “mixed feelings” about the government’s recent amendment to the Imperial House Law that reaffirms male-only succession. The comment was made at a news conference before his upcoming trip to Paraguay to mark the 90th anniversary of Japanese emigration to the country.

"I believe there is no difference between men and women in serving the roles of the imperial family to respond to social needs," the crown prince said.

The amendment, approved by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, codifies that only paternal-lineage males may ascend the throne, a move critics say could further shrink the imperial family. The law also permits princesses to retain their status after marrying commoners, though their spouses and children would not become royals, and allows distant male relatives aged 15 or older to be adopted into the immediate family to produce heirs.

Akishino acknowledged the difficulty of commenting on a political matter, noting, "I have mixed feelings about it, and it’s rather strange if I don’t… Society needs to keep making progress, and I believe it is important for people with different views to keep thinking what’s best."

The revision keeps the line of succession to Akishino, his 19-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito, and then the emperor’s 90-year-old uncle, excluding Emperor Naruhito’s daughter, Princess Aiko, who is ineligible under the male-only rule. Akishino expressed hope that his daughter Princess Kako and his son Hisahito would find happiness in their official duties.

Japan’s history includes eight female monarchs, the most recent being Empress Go-Sakuramachi (1762-1770). The current succession rules were first introduced in the 1890 Imperial House Law and carried into the post-war 1947 version.