Women’s role in Japan's monarchy mulled as abdication bill passes

Japan’s lower house of parliament called for a rare debate on the role of women in the male-dominated monarchy, as it passed a bill on Friday paving the way for Emperor Akihito’s abdication, the first such in nearly two centuries.

Akihito, 83, who has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare public remarks last year he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties. He signaled his desire to hand the crown to his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

The bill is one-off legislation to allow only Akihito to step down, with no provisions for future emperors. Some scholars and politicians feared that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan's future monarchs at risk of being subject to political manipulation.

The abdication issue has highlighted concerns over a potential succession crisis in one of the world's oldest monarchies. A government panel in April issued a warning over the dwindling number of male heirs.

When Naruhito, who has a daughter, ascends the throne, his younger brother Akishino will be next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino's 10-year-old son, with no more eligible males after that. If Hisahito fails to have a son in the future, the centuries-old succession would be broken.

In a move to deal with shortage of male heirs, the bill also included a non-binding resolution calling for debate on allowing women to stay in the Imperial family even after their marriage to a commoner. Current law mandates that they leave.

News of the upcoming engagement of the emperor's granddaughter Mako, 25, to her college sweetheart has intensified the debate.

Traditionalists, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, strenuously oppose such changes. But the idea of female succession is popular among ordinary Japanese.

A Kyodo News survey last month showed 82 percent of those polled were in favor of allowing a female member of the imperial family to succeed to the throne, while 62 percent supported the creation of female imperial family branches.

The bill now goes to the upper house, with the intention of getting it passed before the current session of parliament ends in several weeks. While no definite plan for an abdication is confirmed, media said it will likely take place in late 2018, the 30th full year on the throne for Akihito.

(CGTN)