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© KYODO90% in Japan support idea of reigning empress: survey
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BertieWooster
What's the point when the Emperor or Empress has no power nor Empire?
WatanabeBuddha
The title does not equate to the nation state. Japan was historically united by the current monarchy after rulling over numerous kingdoms.
If India were to have a monarchy, surely it would be better to style him or her as emperor even though it is only one nation technically?
dagon
The 90 percent that don't count, like so many other decisions in Japanese political, socioeconomic scene.
isabelle
I support the idea of disbanding the entire imperial system, along with all systems of royalty across the world.
The idea that, in this day and age, a certain family is considered "better" than the rest of us is utterly absurd and, on a social level, completely wrong. And that's before we even consider just how much money/resources are expended on their upkeep and security.
Anyone who supports such a system is, in my opinion, a fool.
Michael Hooper
I cannot imagine the old fossils in government going along with the idea, even if 90% of those questioned do.
Moonraker
Well, it doesn't really matter what the people think because the conservative dinosaurs and rightists run the show and they don't want to things to change. Some even still believe the emperor is descended from heaven. Imagine that in the 21st century.
Ego Sum Lux Mundi
Who's the woman at furthest right? She's gorgeous!
Tony W.
Of course women should be able to ascend the throne. Look at how great monarchs Queens Elizabeth the First and Second have been in the United Kingdom! Moreover, a woman is less likely to approve of traditions that are pointless or unfair, and more likely to champion if needed the cause of women in society generally. No bad thing at all.
Hawk
The emperor's cousin. Single, according to my wife.
WoodyLee
I am for either as long as they work and pay for all their expenses.
Alongfortheride
Who cares?!! They do nothing
ishel
Not a big fan of hereditary monarchies, but if Japan is going to have one, it's time they got with the program. They had empresses millenia ago, it's time to make Aiko ojousama the new heir to the throne. The people have spoken :)
mountainpear
But how does Aiko feel about it? A bird in a cage! I bet that is the last thing she wants to do!
Michael Tewell
I see no problem with a woman being empress. I see no problem with an APOLITICAL and politically neutral royal family independent of govt.
While no longer allowed political power, royalty serves a vital role in historical continuity, national unity and as a personification of the nation.
Members of the royal family can visit the ill, attend to victims of natural disasters and other calamities, while also celebrating local, regional and national achievements and festivals
Royalty is a national comfort food
KansaimagicYoutube
Let them have an Empress and throw in Sokagakkai in the mix. What could go wrong? The kancho culture continues.
owzer
Either stick with men only and give them a better to play or some power over something - or scrap the entire thing.
itsonlyrocknroll
This must and always be a matter for the J people to decide.
Cultural/tradition allowing.
Mr Goodman
true
However the Japanese constitution is changing and having an Empress would create more balance in a male dominated society and internationally japan would gain more respect by accepting women more equally
The first ruler of Japan was an Empress
shogun36
really? so in other words, wasting more money for nothing?
Just do it, the idea of an emperor, and more so without actual power is yet another archaic tradition that needs to go away.
Start fresh, do something else with all of these time consuming things.
Why not have them, start a day care center or something? Have them retrain the homeless and useless at home shut ins and help them ease back into the workforce?
isabelle
Umm... anyone can do that. You don't need leeching royalty to do it.
Many nations have rid themselves of their royal families without any issues. Royalty certainly wasn't a vital role for those countries, and I don't think it would be for Japan either.
Peter Neil
i think going with virtual ai or cardboard cutouts would garner more than 90%.
TokyoLiving
Japan will decide it at its time..
Their country..
Their rules..
TokyoLiving
Represents the spirit and union for the nation..
Japan's monarchy is the only one in the world to have a bloodline with the first emperor that has historical evidence..
deanzaZZR
How do Okinawan's feel about the Emperor? Showa never visited Okinawa for some reason.
TokyoLiving
That doesn't change the fact that Okinawa is Japan and the Emperor represents ALL Japan..
A sovereign, prime minister or president can't be an omnipresent human being..
Sorry no bonus..
Agent_Neo
The oldest imperial family, which is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records, will be abolished.
That's quite an exciting story.
First of all, who would be happy if the Imperial Household, which is defined as the symbol of Japan, was abolished? The Japanese Communist Party is a proponent of abolishing the imperial family. In other words, the imperial family is a huge nuisance for the Communist Party.
GHQ confiscated the assets of the imperial family and paid for them through taxes. As long as the assets are not returned, it is only natural that the imperial family will be run using Japanese taxes.
Also, as the term "imperial diplomacy" suggests, its position in the world is above that of the Pope, and it is respected and revered.
Which country is happy about the loss of the imperial family and the decline in Japan's diplomatic power?
It also serves as a unifying force for the Japanese people. Emperors in the male line have been a special existence for the Japanese people since mythology. Should a new person go after the earthquake? There is no one to replace you.
And which country does not want its imperial family and Japanese people to unite?
Jonathan Prin
Wonder why they don't have several wives to ensure heirs.
Dressing as penguins does not help either.
Imperial family should show the way being dynamic and vigorous, not silent and out of touch to the commoners.
Jonathan Prin
Emperor decides if his bloodline shall continue by male only. He may listen to his people but does not change the fact the imperial family is dwindling like the population. No one knows if Aiko is able to have children so problem remains.
Wishing them good luck.
The Trees
Of course women should be allowed to become empress, if it were up to me. Love these funny photos they are so serious, it always gives me a good chuckle.
Mr Goodman
However the first ruler of Japan was an Empress and of a completely different bloodline
I doubt Hirohito never visited Okinawa
Regardless Okinawa is Japan
Perhaps your referring to the Ryukyuans
In my personal experience living in Japan the majority ive met who shared their opinions of the royal family weren't fond of it because it's male dominated and what happened during the showa era.
Personally i think it would be awesome if Japan had an Empress or better yet no imperialism at all .
Especially given the fact Japan wants to be or is supposed to be a democracy.
I doubt the imperial family would disintegrate.
An Empress would undoubtedly push for equality ,less war . and be more kind to the people and environment.
Get rid of the LDP and thier superiority agenda
Simon Foston
Agent_NeoToday 02:47 am JST
Not really, because it's completely untrue.
Sounds like anti-communist paranoia.
Suggests to you, maybe.
As for the latter, maybe a few countries. As for the former, I doubt any of them even care.
Not any more. I think Japanese people have been weaned off that mentality since the end of WW2. They might like the tradition of having a monarchy, the only people who still believe in male emperors with a divine mandate or some such nonsense are geriatric male conservatives. The survey results speak for themselves.
BertieWooster
The whole thing is meaningless. Japan has no empire, so why does it have an emperor? And in any case, the "emperor" has no power whatsoever. The last one had to get permission from Kunaicho to abdicate!
Simon Foston
owzerApr. 28 09:25 pm JST
So why shouldn't an empress also get some power over something?
Moonraker
Emperor Jimmu? Believe that and I will show you his grave in Nara prefecture, which is also fake.
opheliajadefeldt
Former Japanese royal, Princess Mako, gave up her title and money to marry a commoner, and now works as a volunteer in NYC....I think she just known now as Mako Komuro.
smithinjapan
Doesn't matter if it's 99%, so long as the old men in the 1% that are in power have their say. Some 80% or so were for an Empress when it was only princess Maiko and the men in power were in full-blown panic, even talking about bringing back old laws that allowed the Emperor and Imperial Family members to take on concubines to get a male heir and avoid the whole disaster that would be a female on the Chrysanthemum throne. They simply will not listen and will not let it happen... ever.
Agent_Neo
Japan's first emperor was a man, but why was it supposed to be a woman? There were several female emperors, but the male emperors were only appointed as regents because they were young.
In other countries, it would be easy to guillotine the royal family, but in modern times there will be no way to stop the imperial family, which even GHQ could not abolish. And most Japanese people don't want that.
Let's think about it after all the royal families are gone from the world.
Only communists want to abolish the imperial family, but that is not a delusion. The other thing is that communists are not only of no use to this world, but are currently only a bane.