Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Centuries ago, women ruled Japan. What changed?
Today May 1, 2019, a new Emperor, Naruhito, is enthroned in Japan and its era name is changed to Reiwa, meaning beauty or order and harmony. He is the 126th emperor of the world's oldest monarchy. This succession has been long expected and accepted among Japanese ever since he was born in 1960 as he is the first son of the just abdicated emperor, Akihito. However, when a new emperor’s first child, Aiko, was born in 2001, Japanese people celebrated the birth in the royal family but in the meantime a little disappointed simply because it was a girl.
Under current law, only the male heirs of the former emperor can succeed to the throne. Accordingly, there are only two male royal family members are in line to the throne, the Crown Prince Akishino, the new emperor’s younger brother, and his 12-year-old son, Hisahito.
This male-only succession was established back in 1889 under the Meiji Restoration initiatives. Despite the fact that there had been ten eras that were reined by female emperors, those Meiji leaders decided to base their constitution from the Prussian constitution, which forbade women from ascending the throne. Because of the shrinking royal line, it has been discussed as to whether to allow a female emperor or to keep princesses to stay in the royal family. However, predominantly male-controlled Japan’s diet, with only under 14% female representation in both upper and lower house combined, it seems to take long or never to amend the law unless the problem becomes unsolvable. After all, Japan is a country that respects “harmony” the most.
Enjoy reading and learning about the new era and emperor in Japan and its future concern.
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