Japan should exhaust all other options before allowing a woman to ascend its Imperial throne, including adoptions and bringing back concubines, Prince Tomohito, Emperor Akihito's cousin, said in a newsletter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
With the Chrysanthemum Throne facing a severe succession crisis -- Japan's Imperial Family has not produced a male heir in 40 years -- a government panel agreed last month to propose allowing women to reign. Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako have one child, a 3-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko.
But Prince Tomohito, the Emperor's cousin, said that old traditions, such as allowing concubines, should be revived instead. "We should try various other ways first," before allowing female monarchs, Prince Tomohito wrote in an essay published in a newsletter circulated among staff of the Imperial Household Agency. "The question is whether it is a right thing to change the unique tradition and history so easily." [...] [Koji Okubo, an Imperial Household Agency staff at the prince's residence] said he did not know whether Prince Tomohito wrote the statement to represent members of the Imperial Family or whether he planned to submit his proposals to the government panel....
... Concubines?
Yes, well ... apparently Japan is a bit different from Western monarchies, since, generally, natural children (as opposed to legitimate children born inside a valid marriage) could not succeed to the throne.
Still ... the concept of someone actually proposing concubines in 2005 ... I'll bet he's getting an earful from a few people. And if the imperial family is prohibited by the constitution from interfering in politics, doesn't that mean that he can't submit this plan to the panel?
...Concubines. My my my.
Posted by iain at November 04, 2005 07:24 PM
