Crown prince vocal about role of imperial family

He made the comments after a law was enacted to allow former Emperor Akihito, 86, the father of the emperor and crown prince, to abdicate. 

Again, misleading information passed off as fact, and now people think "reality!"

Sure they "passed a law", BUT there was no need to waste the time and money in the process, (talking about untold millions if not billions of yen, and wasted time as well)

There was no law, anywhere, that stated he couldnt! They, Abe's government, created the problem, and literally took years to "fix" what didnt need fixing in the first place!

Elites love expensive symbolic rituals with all the pomp and circumstances paid for by the people.

Again, misleading information passed off as fact, and now people think "reality!"

Sure they "passed a law",

you just disproved your whole rant by admitting that they passed a law.

(talking about untold millions if not billions of yen, and wasted time as well)

is this based in reality at all? how did they waste all this money by just enacting a law? smh...

I thinking most Japanese people now treat the Royal Family like an expensive heirloom clock on the mantelpiece.

Nice to look at from a distance, doesn't mean much in daily life, and occasionally need a lot of expensive maintenance.

presidency of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums,

I wouldn’t boast about locking up innocent endangered wild animals in disgusting small concrete cages and massacring thousands of dolphin and selling the best ones to aquariums as good thing.

Imperial families are a serious waste of taxpayer money.

He's getting a little ahead of himself isn't he.

Is there a place for a monarchy in modern society?

NO! Get a job!!

Shame he doesn’t speak out for equality that would enable his niece her rightful place in the accession.

equality that would enable his niece her rightful place in the accession.

I really don't get this call for 'equality' that would condemn the princess to a life spent in the same gilded cage her male relatives are confined to. She's sure well out of it when she gets married.

In the same way that progress in gender equity in the world at large is enacted not by forcing women to work long hours like men have traditionally been expected to, but by enabling men to have a quality of life more like that of the traditional female, a more civilised work/life balance for all, equality in the Imperial Family would be better served by allowing the males the same freedoms as the females; let them escape if they want.

If that means the Palace is empty, so be it. Why force people to do something merely on account of the accident of their birth?

If we must have a Head of State (and I can see there is a strong argument for one, ships must be launched, buildings opened and foreign guests entertained), instead of going on heredity we could pick a name out of a hat, from all adult citizens who express an interest in taking on the role for say, one year or five years or whatever. (Not chosen by popular vote, that way lies corruption and political shenanegans).

The females should have the choice.

Males too. Within the Imperial Family and outside it, gender shouldn't be an issue. At all.

As things stand, the females have the change to escape, the males don't.

None of the royals have to remain in the business of being royals, they can simply refuse.

I suppose so; but being born into it (in the case of the young lad, literally conceived for the purpose of continuing the male line) and raised with an education that brainwashes them into thinking it's their duty, in real life it's not so easy. Even the former Emperor couldn't speak out till he was old and frail, and even then there were months of 'consultations' and much sucking of teeth.

Or just make it the PM.

Again, a possibility; but again, in real life the PM has (hopefully) more important things to do than opening new hospitals and writing poetry at New Year parties. And I for one would not be happy to see Suga dressed up as a hina-sama.

change = chance

"...happy to see Suga dressed up as a hina-sama."

Now there is a sight that I would like to see!