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Male-only rule should be prioritized in imperial succession: Suga

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Better headline:

Prime Minister of Japan thinks that Japan should wait until the 22nd Century to join the 20th Century.

49 ( +52 / -3 )

watching Japan try and progress is like watching a car crash in slow motion and not being able to do a thing.

39 ( +43 / -4 )

whi were those posters on the thread last week defending Japan’s abhorrent gender equality record?

24 ( +33 / -9 )

How is he even allowed to say this in the 20th century? In my country this woud end his political career, if it didn't end already. Japan come on..

22 ( +26 / -4 )

For a country that wants to focus on pushing more women to the forefront, they seem to keep finding ways to deny women taking more leadership or symbolic roles.

20 ( +23 / -3 )

Narrow minded old fool.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Strike three.

This guy’s an idiot. Now confirmed.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

By the way, this culture topic is being used by Suga to distract from the lockdown, the economy, and the Olympics because he has no favorable answers for any of them.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

"Under current circumstances, male-only succession should be given priority," Suga said

Says who?

15 ( +20 / -5 )

But will the Crown Prince allow his elder daughter to marry for...(GASP!)...love?

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Suga has to appeal to his conservative base. It is really funny that his party is called "Liberal" Democratic Party in English. They are actually far right conservatives.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Most of Japanese don't actually agree with these views anymore. But the problem is that they're not able to break the "system". Not yet. So they're apathetic and I don't think we can blame them for that.

Japan has a long way to go. The "dinosaurs" need to " get out of the way " first.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Suga ought to go to travel.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Here's a quick thought experiment for you Suga: Prince Hisahito dies in an accident next year, or turns out to be infertile and infertility treatment doesn't work, or ends up having 3 daughters. What is the plan in each case?

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Mr Suga, you do understand in the future there will only be 1 left.

Didn't they form an expert Pannel about this? We're their recommendations not personally acceptable to you? 80%+ of the population support females, do their (the) people's wishes matter not? Rhetorical question of course not.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

What does it matter anyway? It's just sham. The Emperor no longer emps! The last one had to go through a ton of red tape and get permission from kunaicho to quit!

11 ( +15 / -4 )

This shows how out of touch the leader of Japan is with equality. It can happen when electing leaders in the last decade or two of their lives. They are set in their ways most times and find change hard to accept.

Japan needs younger more vigorous leadership capable of both innovation and making changes that will help Japan thrive even if it goes against "old traditions" that are in place not because they are better but simply because it has been that way for hundreds of years. Some traditions are worth holding onto for remembering cultural history but others need to evolve or die out all together for the good of Japans future.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

It's alarming that Prime Minister Suga does not see the destructiveness, to Japan, of saying this!

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Same photo as the last time this was discussed.

Hisahito’s knee grab and leaning into the foreground looks a little deliberate.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

That photo has a certain uneasy cringe factor to it. It gives this weird vibe that there is more at play then just a simple family photo.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Male-only succession to the throne? I understand that's working out really well for Thailand at the moment.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Under current circumstances, male-only succession should be given priority," Suga said in a prerecorded radio show broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System, referring to the long tradition of male succession.

I suppose that's because the decrepit old NSDAP-... sorry, LDP- and Nippon Kaigi fogies who backed him to become PM would drop him if he dared say otherwise.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Bob’s comment made me look at the photo again; and by George I think he’s right! It’s almost like Prince Hisahito is chomping at the Imperial bit to get to the front of the line.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Suga's vaunted plan to abolish hanko's, except for 83 categories, including driving licences and car registration, two of the most common usages, should tell you enough about his nature.

No change.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

This family will do everything it can to get one of its male members on the throne

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The male dominance in Japanese society is based on pride and fear. The men are too proud to admit they fear the intelligence and success of women. Japanese women outdo the men in all aspects of life from academia through to sports. The men cannot compete on an even playing field and do their darnedest to keep the scales tipped in their favor through prejudice and limited opportunities. It’s only a little over a hundred years ago women were permitted to attend schools.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

@Zorot: I totally agree with 10000%

best comment here in a long time.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

To be honest, I don't think most Japanese people really care about the imperial family. If they disappeared, nobody would notice.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

MeiyouwentiToday  06:51 pm JST

It seems like Prime Minister temporarily recovered his sanity when he gave the radio interview.

So do you think it's crazy to allow women in the imperial succession? Why?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Sexism is rife, if the PM thinks it’s OK, then that attitude just trickles down......

5 ( +8 / -3 )

I don't even understand why they are still here, the entire royal family is totally unproductive in comparison to other royal families around the world. Their existence is pointless, they don't do anything.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

There have been eight female Japanese Emperors to date.

Suga has not given a reason for his one-sided assertion.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Memory refresh………

The Advisory Council on the Imperial House Law 24th November,2005

https://japan.kantei.go.jp/policy/koshitsu/051124_e.pdf

Male-only rule should be prioritized in imperial succession: Suga

Suga san is stalling, kicking the can. Political lip service.

Huge fan and supporter of the Imperial House of Japan.

Change must come. Give the Girls a chance.

 

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Suga is a tool.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

absolutely disgusting

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This article is really poorly written. The headline says Suga supports the male-only rule, the first paragraph says that Suga supports discussion about the male-only rule taking place (which implies he's open to changing it), and the second paragraph is a quote with zero context to explain which one is correct.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Referendum? Are you made man! Have you any idea of the confusion that would create?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This article is really poorly written.

I was initially confused as well by the manner in which this article was written. If I had to guess what is being said - the PM is open to discussing the issue but might be preferential to the traditional male succession. This article could use a rewrite to clarify.

BTW - Princess Kako for Empress!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I suspect that the rigid male-only tradition is foreign, originally from the continent Asia namely Chinese historical dynasties.

Sweden didn't have absolute primogeniture until 1980 when Crown Princess Victoria became heir over her younger brother.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Seriously?! And this guy is still the PM of JapAn?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There have been eight female Japanese Emperors to date.

Also the shaman Queen Himiko who was banished from history books.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The elder girl's hair is rebelliously brownish.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

One word Japan - Referendum!

Let the people vote for what they want ideally with the support of the imperial family not the old fogies in government/IHA.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Oddly enough if the primary job of their reign would be to beget a boy baby, preferabley more than one. 

This is exactly what had once happened to the current Imperial couple. They in a sense "failed", as ending up producing only one kid who is a girl (Aiko). Worse, then Crown Princess Masako got exhausted of the pressure, suffered mental illness, and stayed for a long time away from the public scene. Her comeback presence is a quite recent phenomenon. If super-conservatives insist on the male-only rule, a tragedy of this kind would be repeated. Above all very few qualified woman would be willing to get married to a male imperial member. What if any princess turn out to be infertile or homosexual? All scenarios and backups should be taken into account.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I suspect that the rigid male-only tradition is foreign, originally from the continent Asia namely Chinese historical dynasties.

Doesn't matter where it came from.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why should women not be allowed to fill the position of Constitutional Monarch?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The world has changed a lot in the last 100 years. For example, when my mother was a girl, women did not have the right to vote in federal elections here in the States. In France, the government-in-exile passed a measure for women's suffrage in 1944. Women in Japan have had the right to vote since the end of the war. The US still has not seen fit to elect a woman President, but it will happen someday. So why cast it in stone that a woman should never again be the constitutional monarch in Japan?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whatever brings about the end of the monarchy quickest is fine by me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

AustPaul, are you mad! Let people have a say; let them decide things!! Dear god, you will be suggesting dangerous experiments like democracy next. Wash your mouth out!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Male-only rule should be prioritized in imperial succession: Suga

If he insists on the current regime without any Plan B backups for the stable succession, a big pressure would be inevitably imposed on the future imperial crown couple, namely Prince Hisahito and his partner. Oddly enough if the primary job of their reign would be to beget a boy baby, preferabley more than one. I wonder how many "shortlisted" women (to be the potential wife to Hisahito) would be agreeable with this demanding task.

Prince Hisahito too must feel pressured as he as a male could still be responsible for infertility (Ups, isn't it Lèse-majesté? :P ; Remember, the probability goes further in half if he insists on a boy). Perhaps, biotech solutions would help, though....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan will look very bad in the eyes of the world.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

How is this his concern? He isn't part of the family

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I am not sure why any country needs or wants a family of people that are supported by tax money that is wasted on exactly what? Male or Female, its time to abolish the old ways of thinking.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

a Jan. 4 12:57 pm JST

The Liberal Democratic Party is center-left. There is even a secretary general, Nikai, who is in bed with China. It's like Mitch McConnell in the US. The era of political parties being right or left is over.

If the LDP is center-left, I am really afraid how a center-right party is going to look like.

Btw, you just contradicted your own statement.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I support female throne, but to void the constant debates in parliament and waste of taxpayers money to upkeep this antiquated feudal system. it's good that Japan to consider the abolishment of their imperial household.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The wife is the creepiest one in this family. She is the source for all of Prince Hisahito's Imperialistic ambitions! She wants to be Empress so bad that it is written all over her face.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

I don't even understand why they are still here, the entire royal family is totally unproductive in comparison to other royal families around the world. Their existence is pointless, they don't do anything.

If you’ll recall, the last time they had the power to actually do stuff it didn’t really work out so great.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Tenoheka Banzai !11

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This article is really poorly written. The headline says Suga supports the male-only rule, the first paragraph says that Suga supports discussion about the male-only rule taking place (which implies he's open to changing it), and the second paragraph is a quote with zero context to explain which one is correct.

Actually I listened to the original interview on the radio. Though much nuanced and equivocal as his talk was, Suga seems to be left open to any change or possibility, willing to respect the status quo unless the rule is modified on consent through valid processes. Instead of rushing to decide it unilaterally within the inner circle, Suga may want to encourage wider discussions on the issue.

He declined to comment on the restoration of former imperial branches once disbanded after WWII, the plan lobbied by many male-only proponents. The interview host, Yoshiko Sakurai, a male-only hawkish was trying (in vain?) to draw supportive accounts from Suga. But unlike his predecessor Abe, I think Suga is more open-minded.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Suga's approval rating is gonna hit the ground after this!

Return of the revolving-door souridaijin!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The Liberal Democratic Party is center-left. There is even a secretary general, Nikai, who is in bed with China. It's like Mitch McConnell in the US. The era of political parties being right or left is over.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

aJan. 4  12:57 pm JST

The Liberal Democratic Party is center-left. There is even a secretary general, Nikai, who is in bed with China.

And all the rest are "in bed with the US."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

whi were those posters on the thread last week defending Japan’s abhorrent gender equality record?

Well, it's definitely not a plus to the record. On the other hand, I would think that gender equality is better measured over the chances of the average woman on the street or the ability of elite woman to enter the elite corridors of power rather than whether they are allowed to join the race for a ceremonial post or one sport (really, how many women really are that interested in stuffing themselves fat until they can be competitive in a sumo ring?)

Suga does admit it is an appeal to tradition, which is what you use if you don't have concrete reasons supporting your idea. If rationality is all that matters, Smith P is correct that Japan would have dumped its ceremonial monarchy. At least Britain's monarchy allows it the (not very useful) gain of being able to have the Monarch be the "head of state" of a few countries like Canada and Australia.

Its continued existence is a concession to tradition, to the very idea that continuing the past is in itself worth something. And if we are going to make such an expensive concession anyway, then there is an argument that it should be kept unalloyed.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

WOMEN EQUALITY IN POWER INHERITANCE

°

Any man only succession rules are to be labelled monotheist mistake and forbidden in all elite space on earth. This is a matter of survival with so much war technology. Tomorrow, this is the fittest heir that will inherit and not just the first alive or the one elected by nobles wars solving. This is a different time that need to be started if you want to survive the china corporations, the international mafia, the new hacking criminality, heal the mind of the victims... you have no choice if you want to stay at the of humanity. Those can't exist in enough quantity without the good ruling generation architecture.

So, normally, this is the emperor's daughter who inherit. We have an international extreme right movement trying to create fake science helping women haters. This is still an affair in progress, but all religious oracle agreed on one thing : the women slavering time is over if we wish a future at all, and it must start at the religious top.

With democraty, male people want to go up. And there are not able to respect even a little space for women freedom to rule over themselves and their life. They are very much too violent for all women to keep them in check after thousands years of a complicated slavering born from the death or disparition of an essential goddess, we need the power in control to come back to the original equality powers value between both sexe.

Men can't rule over women destiny. And the male heirloom only is no more on the table because of the women hating over powered beliefs it created. They feel allow to lied and use physical power to insure their only success. But without women, technology can't rise, economy neither tomorrow. They steal creator women and make themselves pass for them. Only mafia and not a religious power does that. Trust at least your gods are fair, and the barbary on those women in foreign soil was use by all technology powers to survive never helping them, warning journalist about them, many times over to keep their access to those dark web mafia ground.

We are at a time when you have no choice anymore. At least if you want to be more than a ill mental animal.

Apparently, the shinto all agree on this. The male inheritance is no more. There is no biological need to be this absolute anymore. And the world will ask if emperor is just a puppet in prison at this point of ignorance of the universe needs and urgent calls. There is problems in Japan, that should not be if the emperor and empress were fully in control. And this is the hard part, with the evolution, god levels change and adapt to be better for the poorest and nature. If the ruler don't follow, he will be replace in nature. Emperor use these argument during colonisation so many times over, i am sure lord understand very well the consequences.

This is being more intelligent and compassionate that allowed Japan to suffer less than the rest of the world from christian. Do you really want to be less tomorrow ? This is the only answer that matter ? I believe not.

°

NadAge

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The govt is responsible for the laws governing these failed individuals

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

In my opinion (that also doesn’t play a role on this issue) this is nothing that should be decided by outside and non-noblesse people. It is completely an internal affair and private issue of the Imperial family , to discussed only there and then finally settled by His Imperial Highness, the Emperor. Does anybody strictly rule in all our citizen’s families, making orders or rules, how and whom to marry, who is on top of a family, who gets or loses something? No, besides of common laws it is by far not as invasive as some want to do with the Imperial family, although it’s not their concern at all.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Yes, do that : Male only. The current Tenno has no son and he can no longer have a legitimate one. The problem is permanently solved. The current Tenno is the last one. Enjoy him, spoil him, I dunno, celebrate. Japan has survived the end of samurais, it's the same. When that ends, that becomes a nice history to tell kids "Mukashi mukashi, there was a Tenno that ruled over Yamato... yes, he had a golden car pulled by 17 white unicorns...".

Public funding ends except for the palaces and antiques they contain that are national heritage. Nobody loses as the ex-imperials go with their dowries, plus they gain freedom. The Shinto priests will be able to pick whoever, from the family or not, as next head of the Shinto cult and ask their followers to fund their show.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

In a Kyodo News poll conducted last year, the public has shown support for women to ascend the throne.

I understand the sentiment, what with fairness and all, but at the same time I feel sorry for any potential empress like Aiko. Who would want to marry into a situation like that? Somehow I think that is a situation easier to handle for males.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The male dominance in Japanese society is based on pride and fear. The men are too proud to admit they fear the intelligence and success of women. 

It's untrue and prejudiced with regard to family succession and inheritance rules. It's unsurprising that female offspring over males are chosen and appointed as a successor to family business or house affairs. Matrimonial linage is also observed in Japanese family structure.

More significantly, the Japanese society doesn't care about the blood-based sccession. Adoption, son-in-law entry/succession and offspring redistribution/trade among houses are a common, business-as usual phenomenon. For what should be maintained is ie or house, not bloodline.

I suspect that the rigid male-only tradition is foreign, originally from the continent Asia namely Chinese historical dynasties. There, to prevent "cuckolding" from distrupting the imperial succession, many "infertile" eunuches serve court women (but despite such efforts, DNA studies suggest the main only rule was broken at some points.... )

Meanwhile enuchs didn't exist nor propagate in Japan, an implication that Japanese didn't care much about bloodline or patrimonial succession.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

It seems like Prime Minister temporarily recovered his sanity when he gave the radio interview. Shortage of male heirs would be solved immediately by reinstating the old imperial houses that were abolished after WW2. They have lots of potential male heirs. As for the Kyodo poll, we’d better double-check the results of the poll conducted by this infamous news agency.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

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