Japan warms to idea of an empress

[emad]

Scholars try to clear the way for a woman to reign, reports Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Sunday January 2, 2005
The Observer

To her doting public she is the chubby-faced three-year-old with the cheeky grin, yet Princess Aiko could soon find herself at the centre of a radical change to Japan's hereditary monarchy.
After months of sotto voce debate, the Japanese government formed a task force of scholars and legal experts last week to look seriously at changing the succession law to allow women to ascend the 2,600-year-old Chrysanthemum throne. If the change goes ahead, Princess Aiko, the only child of the current heir to the throne, could become Japan's first reigning empress for more than 200 years.

The formation of the group comes not a moment too soon: Japan is on the verge of a succession crisis that, if left unaddressed, threatens the future of the world's oldest imperial line.

The 1948 Imperial House Law, based as it is on the postwar constitution's recognition of the emperor as the symbol of the state, forbids women from ascending the throne. But after the current heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his younger brother, Prince Fumihito, the supply of males runs dry: no boys have been born into the imperial family since Fumihito in 1965.

Hopes that Naruhito and his wife Princess Masako would produce a long-awaited male heir have been dashed, first by the birth of Aiko in 2001 after eight years of marriage, and now by Masako's battle with depression, which has kept her out of public life for more than a year.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1382112,00.html

[AngryAmish]

1. How does an Empress date?

Or does she have to remain a virgin like Elizabeth I? (And I know about her rumored affairs, but that is the official party line)

[emad]

4. Speed dating by cellphone with videolink?

[MSgt213]

2. It won't mean the end of Japan so don't frett it guys.

[slor]

3. Works for me...

particularly if she has a more maternal view of the earth, which may or may not be the case.

[mopinko]

5. her "education" will probably take care of

any "maternal views" she might be prone to. wow, is that kid in for some life. oy.

[GoBlue]

6. Get serious....

The Japanese need some scholars and legal experts to point out to them that imperialism is a Reactionary ideology that should be terminated; not encouraged.