80% supportive of reigning empress as pool of heirs shrinks: poll

Unfortunately for Japan, the people who get to decide this are all sexist old dinosaurs

Of course women can and should have the right and ability to rule, other countries have done it for thousands of years as well as Japan, so this would be a good and just move, to not think so would be sexist.

Could be 99%, the minority of LDP are 1950s (if they are progressive) thinking. So will never let that happen or listen to any argument that is counter to their own twisted version of utopia.

80% are for this. Yet the govt. is against it. The government should abide by the wishes of the people.

There's a big disconnect here. Something is wrong. The populace needs to wake up.

Doesn't matter if it's 99% -- it won't happen with the old men in power, who think male genitalia is necessary for the job. I mean, how could you possibly sit and make a speech without a penis? How could you offer encouraging words after a disaster? Ceremonial clothes might have to change!

Now, there's a reason Japan is dead last in gender roles in the G20 and near last in the world besides, and gosh darnit, they want to KEEP That ranking!

Since the poll was conducted by the infamous Kyodo News, the results should be crossed checked. Reinstating the male heirs is the most realistic and surest way of securing a stable imperial succession.

Besides Kyodo, several Japanese media outlets have surveyed the issue for years. Results are clear and consistent in supporting (by a large margin) the empress and royal women's larger involvement in succession or public duties. The pattern has remained unchanged even in "right-wing" media polls (e.g. Sankei, Yomiuri).

世論調査に見る女性天皇・女系天皇への支持率

https://aiko-sama.com/public-opinion-about-imperial-family

Have said it before, just have a referendum and implement changes. It’s not hard, these advisory panels of ‘experts’ is becoming quite a bore….

Better still, ask the people already in the job their thoughts? Or do they not count?

Pukey2 says it all, really.

Monarchies are outdated and the rules about gender even more so.

Interesting how all these article like this one put emphasis of how the majority of Japanese people want reforms in the Imperial succession or how they want to stop the Olympics.

And some of you even side the folk to oppose the government.

But who put these old boys at the helm of the country?

The Japanese people,which despite every scandal of corruption from these cronies keep voting them because in the end most people in Japan despite criticizing them they also want an ultra conservative government to keep them in the bubble.

Most of us here can’t votr because we’re expats but the local people do.

And this shows that very little will change.

Mark my words,despite all the corruption scandals,the Imperial succession,the Olympics and sexism scandals in the end the LDP will win next election,sad but true.

Did the survey reduce bias by asking how many would prefer or accept the naught alternative?

The world's oldest monarchy has an unbroken history of patrilineal succession.

and it should stay that way.

Another simple fact, simply wrong.

There have been many reigning Empresses in Japan’s history.

I’m in favor of a republic. Time for a more progressive future.

The chrysanthemum throne has been surviving for centuries by evolving and adapting itself.

By age and gender, more than 90 percent of female respondents in their 30s or younger said they would accept both a reigning empress and an emperor from the maternal line, the poll showed.

They are key groups of people shaping the future of Japan. Their opinions are also significant.

Back about a dozen years ago they had the same discussion, but it was abruptly ended when (now Crown Prince) Fumihito and his wife had a baby son.

Yet notice that "now Crown Prince" part I wrote there? Yeah, the emperor's brother was already coronated as official next-in-line last year, making it interesting timing for this "discussion".

So even if they change the lineage rules to allow women, Fumiko gets the throne next, and then presumably his daughter/son, and specifically not Current Emperor Naruhito's daughter. There's a lot of speculation on why his daughter is to be excluded, but if I posted them this comment would probably be removed.

Oh, and the timing is also set for now in regards to Fumiko's eldest daughter who intends to marry soon. Under the current rules, she would be officially removed from the Royal household upon marriage, and therefore lose any lineage rights even if they alter the rules to allow women.

The Emperor is, according to the Oxford Dictionary, "the sovereign ruler of an empire." The word derives from a Latin word meaning "One who commands."

Since the Japanese "emperor" is neither able to command, nor is he the ruler of an empire, why does he have this title?

I'm not so sure about this. On the one hand, equality is important - western countries have had female monarchs, many muslim countries and East Asian and western countries have had female leaders and civilization hasn't crumbled. This really doesn't help Japan in its current position of world gender equality.

On the other hand, why would I subject a female to that miserable position in the Japanese imperial family? Aiko must be looking at how her mother has suffered and is probably glad she won't have to suffer the same way. Must be like a prison. Everything you say and the way you look, smile, breath and dress is controlled.

At the end of the day, I really don't understand why any modern democracy requires these families.

80% in Japan only. All other Asians would prob want them gone.

If the purpose of royal family is to showcase the stability of a nation and give a focal point for it's citizen's loyalty, this concern about heirs really undermines Japan's display of leadership. Just add women to the lines of succession, treat their handlers nicely, and maintain control. Not hard a thing to do.

It's possible that Crown Prince would abdicate if the primogeniture is adopted. Or he would hold a temporary, bridge throne to be given away to Princess Aiko.

Or, as suggested by Pukey2 suggested:

Aiko must be looking at how her mother has suffered 

Indeed, her mother is probably looking at how she herself suffered. Yeah, its believed that Aiko's mother and father, in hoping for the best future for their daughter, are actually seeking to have her bypassed from royal lineage.

The Royal Family is waste of tax payer money that serves no real purpose. A tradition that many countries have but makes no sense. Even all the land they own within the middle of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto; that no one enjoys but them. Just image if all those assets were put to better use for the people.

The huge difference between the Japanese so called emperor and Queen Elizabeth is that the queen has real power. She has been described as the richest woman in the world. She is a businesswoman:

https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/royals/queen-elizabeth-net-worth-royal-family-wealth-money-a4260986.html

The 80% is interesting. Possibly the same 80% that want the Olympics canceled.

The results of the mail survey conducted in March and April . . . targeted 3,000 people aged 18 and older across the country and drew 1,907 responses by April 19, of which 1,839 were treated as valid. The response rate was 61.3 percent.

Another important poll result, that comes up completely lacking.

First: "valid answers?" A 61.3% response rate, in which 68 were invalid answers. Again, what is an invalid answer? Just 68 single answers? Or was it all answers for 68 people?

Second: "conducted by mail?" Snail mail, again? In this day in age, with so many young people refusing to do almost thing via survey unless it is electronically based?

Third: any breakdown of who was polled, by age, occupation, geographic location, income, etc.? Also how was the sample scientifically chosen?  Subscribers to the print edition of the newspaper? See age question, above.

Fourth: what was the complete wording and order of the questions (always beware questions that seem to ‘push’ a respondent to a desirable answer; often by describing some option that are more attractive than another).

Finally, what is the corresponding margin of error (always be wary of any poll results - particularly with a limited size - where the margin of error exceeds 5 points).

Also: "90 percent of female respondents in their 30s or younger said they would accept both a reigning empress and an emperor from the maternal line." Could be statistically significant. Unless, perhaps, the 30 or younger females sampling was - maybe - ten out of 1,839?

Also, more interesting towards the specific topic under discussion, did the poll ask respondents if they self-identified themselves as monarchists versus abolitionists? Member of a particular political party? How did this break down?

Need more!

So even if they change the lineage rules to allow women, Fumiko gets the throne next, and then presumably his daughter/son, and specifically not Current Emperor Naruhito's daughter. There's a lot of speculation on why his daughter is to be excluded, but if I posted them this comment would probably be removed.

It's possible that Crown Prince would abdicate if the primogeniture is adopted. Or he would hold a temporary, bridge throne to be given away to Princess Aiko.

Notice that the primogeniture plan wouldn't necessarily nullify the current agnatic succession. After Aiko, the throne moves horizontally to Prince Hisahito (provided that his elder sisters are gone off the imperial house). I think that both rules can co-exist for a while, and that is most practical, least disputed solution which "male-only" hardliners would be able to compromise for female emperors in the future.

I wish this emperor finds the courage and determination one day to free himself from his controlling household staff and stands up, for and with is people. I understand the constitutional limitations and restraints but he all to happily uses them as excuses.

show yourself, vaccinated of course, and masked with your people, avoiding crowds to form , but stop cowering. You leading now would mean a million times more to your people than the horrific Olympics

I support her too but she must break out of very old and out of date politics.

Since the poll was conducted by the infamous Kyodo News, the results should be crossed checked. Reinstating the male heirs is the most realistic and surest way of securing a stable imperial succession.