Sanae Takaichi Upholds Male-Only Succession to the Imperial Throne

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sparked widespread discussion by unequivocally advocating for maintaining the traditional model of throne succession, which excludes women. This decision is particularly emotional because Takaichi herself is seen as a symbol of breaking gender barriers in Japanese politics. During public appearances, the head of government emphasized the importance of preserving the continuity of patrilineal succession, which she considers a key element of national identity and the historical legitimacy of the dynasty. Currently, the Japanese imperial family is facing a serious demographic crisis. The 1947 law stipulates that only a man descended from the male line of the emperor can become the successor to the throne. In practice, this means that the list of potential successors to Emperor Naruhito is extremely short and limited to just a few individuals, including the emperor's nephew, Prince Hisahito. The situation is complicated by the fact that princesses, upon marrying outside the imperial family, lose their status and are removed from the imperial household, further depleting the dynasty's ranks. The Japanese monarchy is considered the oldest uninterrupted dynasty in the world, with mythical roots dating back to 660 BCE. Although eight empresses have ruled in Japan's history, the last one held power in the 18th century, and modern law has definitively prohibited women from ascending the throne. Takaichi's stance aligns with the conservative line of the Liberal Democratic Party, which has for years blocked reforms aimed at equalizing rights within the monarchy. Critics note the paradox: a prime minister who, thanks to a modern approach from voters, reached the highest office in the state, simultaneously defends an archaic order that denies women the right to hold representative functions in the imperial hierarchy. Support for enabling women to inherit is growing in Japanese society, but the government fears that abandoning the male line would undermine the foundations of tradition. „男系による皇位継承を維持することは、我が国の皇室の権威と長い歴史を守る上で極めて重要であると考えています。” (Maintaining imperial succession through the male line is considered extremely important for preserving the authority and long history of our country's imperial family.) — Sanae Takaichi Alternative proposals are also emerging in the public debate, such as restoring to the imperial family the cadet branches that were excluded from it after World War II at the demand of the American occupation authorities. Prime Minister Takaichi appears to lean towards such solutions rather than opening the throne to women. This decision will have far-reaching consequences for the stability of the monarchy in the coming decades, especially in the face of an aging society and a lack of new successors in the younger generation.

Perspektywy mediów: Highlights the irony of a female prime minister blocking the rights of other women and points to the anachronism of current regulations in light of social changes. Focuses on the need to protect centuries-old tradition and the stability of the monarchy, considering male succession an inviolable heritage of Japan.