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From today's Guardian:
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Women could be allowed to ascend Japan's imperial throne under plans discussed yesterday by a commission set up to consider the succession crisis bedevilling one of the world's oldest monarchies. The government-appointed team will report to the prime minister by autumn.
No boys have been born into the imperial family for 39 years and Princess Masako, the 41-year-old wife of Prince Naruhito, the heir to the chrysanthemum throne, is ill after a year-long battle with depression. If the succession laws change, the couple's only child, Princess Aiko, three, could become Japan's first reigning empress for more than 200 years.
Support for the change has grown among voters and politicians eager to maintain an unbroken imperial line.
Next in line is Prince Naruhito's younger brother, and after are a brother, uncle and cousins of the current emperor, the youngest of whom is 56 and the oldest 89.
But change is likely to be opposed by conservatives determined to preserve a male lineage unbroken, they say, for 2,600 years. The eight empresses who reigned between the 6th and 18th centuries were enthroned only temporarily until male heirs were old enough to take over and none passed the title on to their own children.
No boys have been born into the imperial family for 39 years and Princess Masako, the 41-year-old wife of Prince Naruhito, the heir to the chrysanthemum throne, is ill after a year-long battle with depression. If the succession laws change, the couple's only child, Princess Aiko, three, could become Japan's first reigning empress for more than 200 years.
Support for the change has grown among voters and politicians eager to maintain an unbroken imperial line.
Next in line is Prince Naruhito's younger brother, and after are a brother, uncle and cousins of the current emperor, the youngest of whom is 56 and the oldest 89.
But change is likely to be opposed by conservatives determined to preserve a male lineage unbroken, they say, for 2,600 years. The eight empresses who reigned between the 6th and 18th centuries were enthroned only temporarily until male heirs were old enough to take over and none passed the title on to their own children.
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