You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
China-Japan-Koreas
Female Heir?
2005-02-22

"Papa What are you getting me into?"

Princess, 3, Could Be Heir to Japan Throne-Reports
Princess Aiko, 3, could become next in line to the Japanese throne after her father, Crown Prince Naruhito, under plans now being considered, Japanese media quoted a government source as saying late on Monday.
Girls have value? - Must not be an Islamic country.
I don't think there's any Islamic equivalent to Amaterasu...
The question of who is next in line to the Chrysanthemum throne has sparked controversy because of a law which limits accession to males. No boys have been born into the imperial family since Prince Akishino, the crown prince's younger brother, in 1965.
Long dry spell. No girls born in my family since 1959. Eight straight boys including BigEric, and various nephews and cousins. I can see how a pattern is frustrating.
An advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the imperial succession issues is discussing a proposal to revise the Imperial Household Law, which limits accession to the throne to males. On who would be next in line after the crown prince, Kyodo news agency quoted the government source as saying: "It will go to Princess Aiko."
Papa what are you getting me into?
The crown prince's brother, Akishino, is second in line to the throne under the current law.
Is Akishino OK with little niece getting the thumbs up?
Posted by:BigEd

#8  The bane of Japanese society - women getting married at an age too old to reproduce effectively. Crown Princess Masako miscarried her last pregnancy 4-5 years ago. Otherwise, they [probably] would have had a family with several girls, with the youngest a boy. This could have had a big impact on Japanese family sizes. But...nope...Naruhito married for love, instead of his country, and got a woman with a womb full of past-date rotten eggs.
Posted by: gromky   2005-02-22 9:50:43 PM  

#7  The decision on inheriting the throne had to be made quickly. Training for the Heir must begin by age 3 1/2.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-02-22 6:01:56 PM  

#6  It could be much worse for her... she could be married off to some 58 year old pedophile (see other Rantburg article).

I do, however, have to say she is a damn cute kid :).
Posted by: CrazyFool   2005-02-22 1:09:27 PM  

#5  trailing wife gets my point. Poor little kid may have all the comforts but won't have a life...
Posted by: BigEd   2005-02-22 12:54:54 PM  

#4  Mark E you seem to forget our own Royalty - the Judiciary - sits for life, is unaccountable to the people, issues decrees that can't be linked backed to the fundamental document of law. For what its worth, we cross the line when in the Kansas City MO school system case the Federal Judge declared a tax on the citizens of MO to fund his program [BTW, the system still ended up decertified years later even with the money]. Our Legislative reps didn't impeach the wanker, too easy to hide behind the robes and say 'he did it'. The case ended up before the Supremes who did reverse his decree only because "all other measures hadn't already been exhusted". In other words, the court reserves the right to tax without consent.
Posted by: Grort Shotle5111   2005-02-22 12:43:06 PM  

#3  Bah.... more silly traditions from a time long ago. No place for monarchs in the modern world, even figurehead ones. To the American eye, all kingship rituals are preposterous on their face.
Posted by: Mark E.   2005-02-22 12:31:51 PM  

#2  I just thought little Aiko's expression went well with the question...compared to mama and papa's big smiles...
Posted by: BigEd   2005-02-22 11:57:19 AM  

#1  It's much more of a golden shackle life than even that of the English Royal Family. Lots of time spent in shrines taking part in rituals as the embodiment of the nation. The rest of the time pretty much scheduled decades ahead for court ritual. Not much time to be a human being instead of a figurehead.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-02-22 7:48:10 AM  

00:00