Prince Akishino, the second son of the current Japanese emperor, has finally given the royal family a male heir. This birth comes on the heels of consideration by the government to alter the law to allow for a female successor to the throne. For the most part, the Japanese seem to be delighted at this turn of events.
Some lawmakers are commenting on how they should not be so hasty about reconsidering the laws in situations where a male successor isn’t on the horizon. Smiling middle-aged Japanese women are talking about how wonderful this birth is for Japan. Crowds are cheering and putting up congratulatory banners. No one except the foreign community and press seem to be openly viewing this birth with a critical eye. If the Japanese press is hearing dissent, it probably isn’t going to publish it since the press is strictly controlled on matters concerning the royal family.
One might hope that the female population in Japan would view this as a direct slap in the face to notions of female equality and a further indication that Japanese women are far from achieving any sort of parity with men in the eyes of policymakers. Several years ago, this was evidenced by the fact that the introduction of Viagra into Japan preceded the introduction of the birth control pill. This was despite the fact that the pill had been legal and available for a much longer period of time in other countries. The idea that women would be in control of their reproductive choices was not something the patriarchal society was prepared for. It was only the uproar created by the hypocrisy of permitting a drug that gave men erections before allowing women a pill that would allow them to choose not to have babies as a result that pushed the approval of the pill through.
Article comments
1 - Rebecca
My guess is that the question will now be forgotten. The Emperoress herself is hardly ever seen and she must walk behind her husband in the royal household at all times.
2 - Lady Dragonfyre
"If Aiko becomes the reigning empress, and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may be the emperor," Mr Hiranuma told about 40 MPs, academics and supporters at a Tokyo hall. "We should never let that happen."
But what if Prince Akishino's new son gets involved with a "blue-eyed foreigner" while studying abroad, and marries HER? Couldn't their child become the emperor as well?
I know Japan is steeped in tradition, and I respect the immense pride the Japanese people feel for their traditions; however, the world is rapidly shrinking in modern times. The royal family won't be able to keep its bloodline solely Japanese forever.
3 - a by-walker
The royal family has its bloodline Japanese, Japanese only (might be ....), I guess.
4 - Shari
I can't read Mr. Hiranuma's mind but the fact that he'd make such a statement about a female royal person and not about a male would seem to indicate that there's a feeling that a man would take his royal duties seriously enough that he wouldn't allow his emotions to dictate his choice of spouse.