Japan called the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to revise the law on the imperial house in order to ensure gender equality in the succession to the throne extremely regrettable. The corresponding statement was made at a press conference by the Secretary General of the Japanese cabinet, Yoshimasa Hayashi, TASS reports.
"This is extremely regrettable. We protested to the committee and demanded that [this recommendation] be deleted," he said.
On October 29, the UN Committee adopted a document in which it recommended that Japan study the experience of other countries that have revised their laws on succession to the throne. The Japanese authorities are advised to "amend the law on the Imperial House to guarantee equality of women and men in the succession to the throne."
During the discussions, the Japanese delegation stated that this issue was not within the competence of the committee.
As you know, the throne in Japan is transmitted only through the male line. This is connected with concerns about the future of the imperial family, since the current Emperor Naruhito has only three potential heirs: his younger brother, 58-year-old Prince Akishino, his son and nephew of the emperor, 18-year-old Prince Hisahito, and uncle Naruhito, 88-year-old Prince Hitachi.
The Japanese Government has previously set up advisory groups to discuss a way out of the predicament. Among the proposed ideas was the restoration of the rights of the side branches of the imperial family, granting the right to the throne to potential heirs in the female line, that is, the sons of the daughters of the emperors, as well as granting the right to succession directly to women.
Currently, the idea of the possibility of transferring the throne to a woman is supported by the general population of Japan. According to a survey conducted in April by Kyodo news agency, it is supported by about 90% of the population. Despite this, the conservative-minded authorities are cautious about this topic and postpone its discussion.