The revised Imperial House Law, aimed at securing the number of members of the imperial family, came into effect on the 24th. Adoption by members of the imperial family, which had been prohibited until now, is now permitted only for males in the male line of former imperial families, and female members of the imperial family are now able to maintain their status even after marriage. The government has emphasized the importance of halting the decline in the number of members of the imperial family, but issues remain, such as the difference in status between female members of the imperial family and their husbands and children, and whether adoptions will actually be possible.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the Imperial Palace on the 23rd and gave a private presentation to His Majesty the Emperor. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference that the free will of those involved should be respected under the new system, and emphasized that ``we will be close to the people involved and take appropriate measures when implementing the system.''
Female members of the imperial family who have left the imperial family due to marriage will continue to carry out official duties. On the other hand, there are concerns about how to maintain ``family unity.'' Female members of the imperial family are listed in both the Imperial Genealogy and the Basic Resident Register, and since they do not have surnames, only their first names are listed in the resident register. Her husband and children do not become members of the imperial family, leaving her in an awkward situation where her status differs within the family. Female members of the imperial family do not have the right to vote or be elected, but their husbands and children, who are ordinary citizens, do, and some are concerned about the relationship with the political neutrality of the imperial family.
Detailed considerations are yet to be considered, such as whether husbands and children will also be involved in public affairs and the extent to which they will provide security. As a transitional measure, current female members of the imperial family can choose whether or not to leave the imperial family upon marriage, but there is a risk that their decision will attract public attention and cause psychological stress.
Regarding the adoption system, it is unclear whether any candidates will actually emerge. The subjects for adoption are males over the age of 15 from former palace families who do not have a spouse or children. According to experts, about 10 people from four of the former 11 palace families could be affected.
However, the male lineage of the former imperial family, who left the imperial family in 1947, and His Majesty the Emperor were separated in lineage during the Muromachi period about 600 years ago, and there is a gap of 36 to 38 degrees of kinship between them. With opposition parties calling him ``almost a complete stranger,'' the challenge is whether the public will agree with him. There are also persistent opinions that this constitutes ``discrimination based on family origin'', which is prohibited by the Constitution.
While the revised law reflects the prime minister's strong desire to maintain the male line, fundamental discussions regarding imperial succession, such as the pros and cons of women and female emperors, have been postponed. The Diet's accompanying resolution stated, ``We will continue to consider measures to ensure a stable succession to the Imperial Throne.'' The opposition parties are calling for the establishment of an expert council, but Kihara reiterated his cautious stance at the press conference, saying, ``We are not thinking about establishing one right away.''
