Japan's Crown Prince Akishino Expresses Unease Over Male-Only Throne Rule

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito and next in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, has expressed personal discomfort with the government's recent revision to the Imperial House Law, which upholds the principle of male-only succession.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday ahead of an official visit to Paraguay, Akishino said he has "mixed feelings" about the change. "I believe there is no difference between men and women" in fulfilling the duties of the imperial family, he stated, while acknowledging the difficulty of the subject. "It is a difficult question, and the reality is that I can't talk about it," he added.

The comments come weeks after the conservative government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushed through a historic amendment to the law, a move that has drawn sharp criticism as anachronistic and discriminatory. The revision solidifies the rule that only males of paternal lineage can become emperor, effectively barring Princess Aiko, the emperor's 24-year-old daughter, from the throne.

The change also allows princesses to retain their status if they marry commoners, though their husbands and children would not be royals. More controversially, it permits the adoption of distant male relatives into the immediate royal family to secure heirs, but only those of paternal lineage are eligible.

Critics argue the government's insistence on male-only succession imposes an inhumane system on the royals, ignoring their personal burden and feelings. The revision has sparked protests, with many Japanese viewing it as an attempt to sideline Princess Aiko and entrench a patriarchal system.

Japan has historically had eight female monarchs, the last being Empress Gosakuramachi, who reigned from 1762 to 1770. The paternal-line male succession rule was first codified in the 1890 Imperial House Law, a provision largely carried over into the current 1947 version.

Akishino, who is not expected to make political statements as a member of the imperial family, was careful in his remarks. He stressed the importance of societal progress, saying, "The society needs to keep making progress, and I believe it is important for people with different views to keep thinking what's best."

There are also concerns that the government's push could overshadow the legacy of former Emperor Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and worked to bring the monarchy closer to the people, a tradition continued by his son, Emperor Naruhito.