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Poll finds over 80% in Japan back female emperor

36 Comments
By Kazuhiro Nogi

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36 Comments
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Man or woman it's still the same job. Go here, wave. Go there, bow. Smile for the cameras, pretend you care.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

I actually would like to see Japan have an empress in the future, the country was made by Amaterasu after all

15 ( +16 / -1 )

If this were to happen, this would totally undermine the IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD AGENCY.

So this is why , This Will Never Happen.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Put me in the ayes, too.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

I don't know about this story and how real it is because I was in Sendai, Morioka, Aomori and now Iwate city. stopped in smaller cities like Hachinohe, Mutso city but the results I received were very different and surprising. Where did this poll take place? Certain it is not representative. We had another group conducting the same down South in Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki with similar results. These live polls were conducted by Japanese nationals and while 46% support a female emperor, most alarming was both south and north areas feel the monarchy has had its time and it should end. I was astonished and saddened. Broken by age group the result was lower while the younger people under 25 felt it was time for a woman to be emperor as in the past.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

There have been empresses in the (distant) past haven’t there? When did the rules change?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Have they ever made a poll asking whether they should continue having a royal family at all?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Japan has had eight reigning empresses in its history. The law prohibiting a female to reign as emperor was established in 1947. So I can understand why most Japanese people don’t see a problem with a female ruler.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

@Vince Black

I have to disagree with you a little. A female emperor would have a lot of significance in modern day Japan. To see a country, as opposed to change as Japan as well as having a heavy male dominance structure, open to having a woman be the figurehead of the country could actually help inspire a lot of change. Not just in the culture but in the mindset of some people.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

The 80% are right. It's now up to them to send the message to the usual suspects, the oyaji pols who continue to stymie progress.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

One other thing that bugs me, is that if a female marries a commoner they are withdraw, outcast from the imperial household, and she becomes a commoner the same as her husband. I would like to see her status reinstated IF, she becomes divorced, or widowed.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Women were only barred from becoming Emperor in the Meiji period because the Emperor was the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and it would not do for a woman to control the army. Now Japan no longer officially has an army, there should be no reason for there not to be an Empress again.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Well the emperor system is totally not relevant to people's lives. People care about family, jobs and money. But if one has to exist then why not an empress? After all the UK has had a Queen, I believe of the female persuasion, since forever!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

How many of that 80% consistently vote LDP?

Based off weighted vote disparity, approximately 234%

5 ( +5 / -0 )

While we would like to believe in equality, its not much of a prize. The empress and her potential spouse will be subjected to the intense scrutiny for perfection from the Imperial Household, the Japanese press and the public. It is literally a sanctioned hazing process. Just look at what Princess Mako and her fiance have had to endure and she's LEAVING the Imperial Household. Of course, she is not unique in experiencing this. Empress Michiko and the current Masako have both faced a critical press and an uncaring Imperial Household that exacerbated their problems. Yes, the British monarchy and tabloids gave Princess Diana similar treatment and they seem to be giving Princess Markle a hard time.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Jj jetplane:

I respectfully disagree. England and the later uk had a few reigning queens, but the country remained male dominated until the 20th century.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Once again, opinion polls show a Japanese population that is open minded towards social issues and hardly the ignorant and close minded type of people that some here would have you believe.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

I'm curious what Princess Aiko thinks of this tbh. It has to be a lot to take on, either as a freeing feeling to be ineligible or feeling off put to be restricted by gender.

While I would personally appreciate seeing her as Empress, I hope more for the outcome where those directly involved can be happy /satisfied.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I respectfully disagree. England and the later uk had a few reigning queens, but the country remained male dominated until the 20th century.

I can assure that it remains male dominated today too.

The law prohibiting a female to reign as emperor was established in 1947. 

It actually goes back to the Meiji restoration

There have been empresses in the (distant) past haven’t there? When did the rules change?

There have been two in the last 1,200 years. Both of those appear to have been political stop-gaps

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@ Old man, yes, well argued yet again. This poll clearly shows Japanese are forward-thinking and ready to embrace change. Many people here seem to think Japanese thinking is set in stone, or "too old-fashioned", which is simply not true.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

some refreshing news . . .

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I bet the question was closed "is a woman tenno just as good as a man one ? yes or no".

If they had asked if Japan could thrive without a human taking the imperial role, maybe they'd have gotten 98% of yes.

In future, they could get a Ten-nian (god cat emperor) ... an hologram Anime-no ... or a full set the of seven Shichi AI Tenno... or a large band, the Tenno-48...

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Forget about female emperors, just abolish Emperors and become a Republic.

Republic of Japan sounds a lot better.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Two thumbs up. 82%

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I can't believe we are still having this discussion in 2019. Japan is not a third world country, females should be able to become Emperor.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Luddite:

Well, become empress. A transgender emperor might take a wee bit longer.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

the conservatives rule the country, so we won't see change until they're dead

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This is totally anachronistic! Let a femme become an Emperor.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yes, indeed, Wolfpack is right: she can become an Empress or Queen.

So I correct my sentence to read: Let a femme become an Empress.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan's Conservatives remain strongly opposed to revisions to the Imperial House Law to allow women to ascend the throne.

Well they're going to have to make a choice soon. Change the laws to grant women equality, or have no throne.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

This poll is consistent with similar polls taken a while back.

Female heirs should not be denied the throne, because women have every.single.right to be just as miserable as their male counterparts.

That, and historically speaking, the first recognized ruler of Japan was a woman.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What does it even matter? They don't even do much to help the people of Japan! Jimmy Carter in his old age is still building homes for the less fortunate. Has any of the past emperors done any ACTUAL hard hands on public work for the betterment of someone else life? So it doesn't really matter if it's a male or female in the chair!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan is really behind times, japanese talks abt women empowerment. But the reality is.........................

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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