What's happened
Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, faces a complex future as Japanese law requires her to renounce her royal status if she marries outside the imperial family. Public support for changing this law is growing, but conservative factions resist. Aiko continues her duties while working at the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Mari Yamaguchi in The Independent, 'the vast majority of Japan’s public supports changing the law to allow her to remain a royal and become emperor,' highlighting the growing demand for reform. However, the conservative faction's insistence on maintaining male-only succession poses a significant barrier. The Japan Times notes that Crown Prince Akishino emphasized the need for palace officials to understand the perspectives of royal family members, stating they are 'living humans.' This suggests a potential shift in how the imperial family engages with societal issues, but the path forward remains fraught with political challenges.
How we got here
Aiko graduated from Gakushuin University in 2024 and began working at the Japanese Red Cross Society. The 1947 Imperial House Law restricts succession to males, putting the monarchy's future at risk as the number of royal family members dwindles.
More on these topics
-
Masako is the Empress of Japan as the wife of Naruhito, who ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019.
-
Naruhito is the Emperor of Japan since May 2019. He acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May 2019, beginning the Reiwa era, following the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito.
-
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.