DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

‘No one would want to marry her’: Japan ruling party lawmaker rejects female emperor

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A senior Japanese ruling party lawmaker stated that Princess Aiko cannot become emperor under the current succession law and suggested no one would marry her if she did.
  • Hirofumi Nakasone, head of the LDP's constitutional reform headquarters, cited the 1947 Imperial House Law, which limits succession to male descendants in the paternal line.
  • Public opinion favors allowing a female emperor, but the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remains cautious about changing the law.

A senior lawmaker from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has stated that Princess Aiko is ineligible to become emperor under the current succession law, adding a controversial remark that no one would want to marry her if she ascended the throne.

Princess Aiko cannot become emperor under Japan’s current succession law, adding that no one would want to marry her if she did.

— Hirofumi NakasoneNakasone, a senior LDP lawmaker, made these remarks regarding the possibility of a female emperor.

Hirofumi Nakasone, 80, a former foreign minister and head of the LDP’s constitutional reform headquarters, made these comments during a speech in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. His remarks come as lawmakers continue to debate how to address the shrinking size of the imperial family. Nakasone asserted that the 24-year-old princess, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, could not become emperor under the 1947 Imperial House Law, which restricts succession to male heirs in the paternal line.

If she became emperor while unmarried, there would be no one willing to marry her.

— Hirofumi NakasoneNakasone commented on the potential social and familial pressures Princess Aiko might face.

Nakasone further elaborated that if Princess Aiko were to become emperor while unmarried, "there would be no one willing to marry her," citing the immense pressure a prospective husband would face. He also suggested she would endure "tremendous pressure" to produce a male heir. Despite being the emperor's only child, the princess is ineligible due to the existing law.

She would face tremendous pressure to produce a male heir.

— Hirofumi NakasoneNakasone discussed the expectations related to succession and heirs within the imperial family.

The issue has gained prominence as the imperial family has seen a decline in its male members. Public opinion polls indicate strong support for allowing a female emperor, yet the conservative LDP has approached the idea with caution. Nakasone insisted that the matter should not be decided by popularity, stating, "This is about who will inherit the throne of the nation’s emperor, and we must discuss it calmly based on the law." He urged the public to understand the legal framework to prevent the debate from going in the "wrong direction."

It is not a popularity vote. This is about who will inherit the throne of the nation’s emperor, and we must discuss it calmly based on the law.

— Hirofumi NakasoneNakasone emphasized the need for a legal and calm discussion on imperial succession, rather than public opinion.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog