Princess Aiko’s popularity sparks calls to change Japan’s male-only succession law
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s beloved Princess Aiko is often acclaimed like a pop star.
During A visit to Nagasaki with Emperor Naruhito And Empress Masako, His name was shouted by well-wishers on the roads, drowning out the cheers of his parents.
As she turns 24 on Monday, her supporters want to change Japan’s male-only succession law that bans the emperor’s only child, Aiko, from becoming ruler.
Along with the frustration that debate over the rules of succession has stalled, there is also a sense of urgency. Japan’s shrinking monarchy is on the brink of extinction. Naruhito’s young nephew he is the only suitable heir of the younger generation.
Experts say women’s ban should be lifted before the royal family ends, but conservative MPs including the Prime Minister Sanae TakaichiWe oppose the change.
Aiko’s popularity increases demand for female ruler
Aiko has gained fans since debuting as an adult royal in 2021 and impressing the public as smart, friendly, caring, and fun.
Aiko’s support as a future monarch grew following her first solo official overseas trip to Laos in November, representing the emperor. During the six-day visit, he met with senior Laotian officials, visited cultural and historical sites and met with local people.
Earlier this year, Aiko went to Nagasaki with her family. okinawa. He followed the example of his father, who attached great importance to transmitting the tragedy of World War II to younger generations.
“I always support Princess Aiko’s coronation,” said Setsuko Matsuo, an 82-year-old atomic bomb survivor who arrived at the peace park in Nagasaki hours before Aiko and her family’s scheduled arrival in the area. “I love everything about him, especially his smile…it’s so comforting,” he told The Associated Press at the time.
Mari Maehira, a 58-year-old office worker who waited to cheer Aiko on in Nagasaki, said she had seen Aiko grow up and “now we want to see her become a future ruler.”
The princess’s popularity has led some to pressure lawmakers to change the law.
Cartoonist Yoshinori Kobayashi wrote comics pushing for a legal change that would allow Aiko to become ruler; supporters continue to send it to parliamentarians to raise awareness and get their support for this cause.
Others set up YouTube channels and distributed leaflets to draw public attention to the issue.
Ikuko Yamazaki, 62, is taking to social media to advocate for the succession of the emperor’s first child, regardless of gender. He says that Aiko’s lack of a successor and the insistence on male-only monarchs will lead to the destruction of the monarchy.
“The succession system reflects the Japanese mentality regarding gender issues,” Yamazaki said. “I hope that having a female ruler will significantly improve the status of women in Japan.”
Aiko’s upbringing
The popular princess was born on December 1, 2001.
Her mother, Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, developed a stress-induced mental condition shortly after giving birth to Aiko, apparently from criticism that she was still recovering from for her inability to produce a male heir.
As a sumo fan, Aiko was known as a smart kid who memorized wrestlers’ full names.
But she also faced challenges: As a primary school girl, she briefly missed classes due to bullying. As a teenager, he appeared extremely skinny and missed classes for a month.
In 2024, Aiko graduated from Gakushuin University, where her father and many other royals studied. Since then, while working for the Red Cross Society, he also participated in its official duties and court rituals. She enjoys walking with her family on weekends and playing volleyball, tennis and badminton with palace staff.
Japan’s monarchy is in ‘critical situation’
The Imperial Household Law of 1947 only allows inheritance through the male line, forcing royal women who marry commoners to lose their royal status.
The number of members of the rapidly declining Imperial Family has dropped from 30 to 16 thirty years ago. They are all adults.
Naruhito has only two potential young male heirs; His younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino, 60, and Akishino’s 19-year-old son, Prince Hisahito. Prince Hitachi, former Emperor Akihito His younger brother and third in line to the throne is 90 years old.
Akishino acknowledged that the royal population was aging and shrinking, “but nothing can be done under the current system.”
“I think the only thing we can do now is to reduce our official duties,” he told reporters ahead of his 60th birthday on Sunday.
Last year, the crown prince made a subtle but rare comment that royals were “people” whose lives were affected by the controversy. Akishino said on Sunday that although he sincerely took into consideration the words of palace officials, he saw no change.
Aiko had previously said that she was aware of the decreasing royal population, but could not comment on the system. “Under these circumstances, I hope to sincerely serve every official duty and assist the emperor and empress as well as other members of the Imperial Family.”
The shortage of male heirs is a serious concern for the monarchy, which some historians say has persisted for 1,500 years. This is also a reflection of a broader problem with Japan’s rapidly aging and shrinking population.
“I think the situation is already critical,” said Hideya Kawanishi, a Nagoya University professor and monarchy expert. Her future depends entirely on Hisahito and his potential mate’s ability to have a son. “Who would want to marry her? If someone did, she would endure tremendous pressure to produce a male heir while performing official duties in a superhuman capacity.”
Former Imperial Household Organization chief Shingo Haketa said in an article in the Yomiuri newspaper this year that Hisahito should carry the burden and fate of the Imperial Family alone. “The fundamental question is not whether a male or female line of succession should be allowed, but how to save the monarchy.”
Japan’s male-only inheritance system is relatively new
Japan traditionally had male emperors, but there were also eight female monarchs. The last one was Gosakuramachi, who reigned from 1762 to 1770.
The rule of male-only succession was enacted in 1889 and carried over into the post-war Imperial Household Act of 1947.
Experts say the system previously worked only with the help of concubines, who gave birth to half of the past emperors until about 100 years ago.
The government proposed allowing a female ruler in 2005, but Hisahito’s birth allowed nationalists to cancel this proposal.
The search for a male heir was unsuccessful
In 2022, a largely conservative expert panel called on the government to continue the male line and allow female members of the family to retain their royal status and continue their official duties after marriage. Conservatives also proposed the adoption of male descendants from defunct distant branches of the royal family to continue the male line; This was an unrealistic idea.
The United Nations women’s rights committee in Geneva last year called on the Japanese government to allow a female emperor, saying failure to do so hindered gender equality in Japan.
Japan rejected the report as “regrettable” and “inappropriate”, saying imperial succession was a matter of fundamental national identity.
“Although it is not explicitly stated, what they say is clearly in favor of male supremacy. This is their ideal society,” Professor Kawanishi said.
