Pressing issue of the new imperial era, Reiwa
CHINO Keiko / Journalist
June 25, 2019
The new imperial era “Reiwa” started, putting an end to the 31-year Heisei era.
It was approximately three years since the Emperor Emeritus manifested his will to stand down till the new Emperor ascended to the throne. Succession of the Chrysanthemum Throne followed by abdication was an unprecedented event in the history of constitutional government, something no Japanese had ever experienced. As it was a “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in real life, various matters of concerns and anxieties had been raised pending the transition. However, despite such apprehensions, the transition process has so far been successful, receiving reactions that are far more positive than had been expected.
On April 30th, many people stood in front of the Imperial Palace despite the rain, as if to regret the parting with the last day of Heisei era. Then came May 1st, the day of the introduction of the new era name. On May 4, signaling the change of the mood, more than a hundred thousand people from the jubilant nation gathered in front of the Imperial Palace waving little Japanese flags, to take part in the People’s Visit to the Palace for the Enthronement Greeting.
Upon being interviewed for TV, people commented, “I came here at 3:00 am”, “I hope the peace enjoyed in Heisei will continue on to Reiwa”, “the young generations like us are responsible for shaping the Reiwa era”, “I am soon retiring, while the Emperor is taking on a big role from here. I wish him all the best” and so forth. Looking at those people commenting, I felt that the “Emperor as the symbol”, which was the consequence of defeat in the Second World War, had now come truly to embody the unity of the people. Needless to mention, this is the result of the tireless efforts of both the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, who had always remained “close to the people” in their thoughts throughout their reign. However, in hindsight, the nation of Japan had also supported the Emperor’s never-ending endeavor to “seek an appropriate answer to the question of how the symbol should be.”
Watching the previously mentioned TV interviews with such thoughts in mind, I felt positive looking into the modern image of the imperial family held by the nation, where quite a huge number of people showed expectations towards the new emperor for his “active role in the International arena.” I felt that this is a sign that Japanese people, whether consciously or not, held the notion that Japan should not be inward-looking.
All the more for this reason, I was filled with a sense of forlornness and crisis watching the Ceremony for Inheriting the Imperial Regalia and Seals. There were only Prince Fumihito, Crown Prince-to-be from this day, and Prince Hitachi at the sides of the Emperor standing in front of the chamberlains holding the sacred sword and seals of “the three imperial regalia.” Even when counting Prince Hisahito, who was not attending the ceremony as he was not yet an adult male, there existed only three male members of the imperial family who were in line of succession to the throne. Moreover, Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus, is of advanced age.
In the new era Reiwa, Japan continues to face a wide range of issues from politics, economy, foreign diplomacy, to societal matters just as it did in the Heisei era. However, looking at the above-mentioned situation, there is no question that imperial succession is the most pressing issue of all.
As is well known, the bill for amending the Imperial Household Act so as to allow women to take the throne or to allow matrilineal succession to the throne was about to be submitted to the Diet back in the Koizumi cabinet. However, the attempt had been shelved with the pregnancy of Princess Kiko of Akishino. Further, discussion on female imperial family members including the establishment of imperial branches headed by women, which was started under the Noda cabinet, was derailed halfway through. Those who felt relieved with the birth of Prince Hisahito were not a few, and the crisis had been put off. However, with the passing of time, the level of the crisis is further heightened.
There is a strong view that should we leave the situation as is, biologically speaking, the imperial household will come to a natural end. How would we be able to overcome the crisis?
Looking into the results of opinion poll, while a majority favors the idea of having a matrilineal emperor or empress regnant, there is a long-rooted staunch objection mainly from the conservatives. Even though the opposition might possibly tolerate an empress regnant, for which historical precedents exist, as a one-off stand-in, there is an extremely strong objection towards matrilineal emperors as it would signify the end to the unbroken imperial line from time immemorial, of which the Japanese imperial family is the only case in the world. This is why there has been an idea persistently floated to restore ex-imperial family branches, descendants in the male line, that were abandoned after the war. However, they have broken away from the imperial family for over 7 decades since the end of the war, and the question is whether there will be national consensus to support their sudden elevation. We can hardly say that we have such consensus.
Such being the case, no plan we have at the current stage is perfect, and we are constantly faced with the danger of split in public opinion or fissures in the country. Should we override objections and embark on a certain course, it could leave a serious issue in the future with respect to the emperor as the symbol, or what we call “our emperor”. Time is limited. At the same time, we need to have a thorough discussion. We must overcome the challenge of this seemingly contradictory task. For this to happen, we have no choice but to start the debate immediately, laying out all possible options on the table with a view to hammering out a solution.
It is truly unfortunate that such a basis for discussion has not been fostered at all. Who are to blame? It all boils down to the lack of sense of crisis permeating the government and the nation. Today, we are pressed with the need for having an acute sense of crisis, rather than just bidding a reluctant farewell to Heisei or congratulating the beginning of Reiwa. This could be the way to put us on the threshold of our future. We need to learn a lesson from both Showa and Heisei era where we tended to avoid tackling highly contentious issues, in the hope that somebody would somehow solve the problem for us.
We have a long way to go to reach a solution that would be accepted universally and cuts the Gordian knot. Such a solution may not even exist after all. However, “continuation of the imperial family” may be the sole national consensus we have at the moment. Thus we have no other choice but to posit this as our top priority, and strive to work for a solution. After all, should we lose the imperial family, there would no longer be the unbroken imperial line from time immemorial for us to protect.
Chino Keiko is a freelance journalist and Guest Columnist of the Sankei Shimbun.
It was approximately three years since the Emperor Emeritus manifested his will to stand down till the new Emperor ascended to the throne. Succession of the Chrysanthemum Throne followed by abdication was an unprecedented event in the history of constitutional government, something no Japanese had ever experienced. As it was a “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in real life, various matters of concerns and anxieties had been raised pending the transition. However, despite such apprehensions, the transition process has so far been successful, receiving reactions that are far more positive than had been expected.
On April 30th, many people stood in front of the Imperial Palace despite the rain, as if to regret the parting with the last day of Heisei era. Then came May 1st, the day of the introduction of the new era name. On May 4, signaling the change of the mood, more than a hundred thousand people from the jubilant nation gathered in front of the Imperial Palace waving little Japanese flags, to take part in the People’s Visit to the Palace for the Enthronement Greeting.
Upon being interviewed for TV, people commented, “I came here at 3:00 am”, “I hope the peace enjoyed in Heisei will continue on to Reiwa”, “the young generations like us are responsible for shaping the Reiwa era”, “I am soon retiring, while the Emperor is taking on a big role from here. I wish him all the best” and so forth. Looking at those people commenting, I felt that the “Emperor as the symbol”, which was the consequence of defeat in the Second World War, had now come truly to embody the unity of the people. Needless to mention, this is the result of the tireless efforts of both the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, who had always remained “close to the people” in their thoughts throughout their reign. However, in hindsight, the nation of Japan had also supported the Emperor’s never-ending endeavor to “seek an appropriate answer to the question of how the symbol should be.”
Watching the previously mentioned TV interviews with such thoughts in mind, I felt positive looking into the modern image of the imperial family held by the nation, where quite a huge number of people showed expectations towards the new emperor for his “active role in the International arena.” I felt that this is a sign that Japanese people, whether consciously or not, held the notion that Japan should not be inward-looking.
All the more for this reason, I was filled with a sense of forlornness and crisis watching the Ceremony for Inheriting the Imperial Regalia and Seals. There were only Prince Fumihito, Crown Prince-to-be from this day, and Prince Hitachi at the sides of the Emperor standing in front of the chamberlains holding the sacred sword and seals of “the three imperial regalia.” Even when counting Prince Hisahito, who was not attending the ceremony as he was not yet an adult male, there existed only three male members of the imperial family who were in line of succession to the throne. Moreover, Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus, is of advanced age.
In the new era Reiwa, Japan continues to face a wide range of issues from politics, economy, foreign diplomacy, to societal matters just as it did in the Heisei era. However, looking at the above-mentioned situation, there is no question that imperial succession is the most pressing issue of all.
As is well known, the bill for amending the Imperial Household Act so as to allow women to take the throne or to allow matrilineal succession to the throne was about to be submitted to the Diet back in the Koizumi cabinet. However, the attempt had been shelved with the pregnancy of Princess Kiko of Akishino. Further, discussion on female imperial family members including the establishment of imperial branches headed by women, which was started under the Noda cabinet, was derailed halfway through. Those who felt relieved with the birth of Prince Hisahito were not a few, and the crisis had been put off. However, with the passing of time, the level of the crisis is further heightened.
There is a strong view that should we leave the situation as is, biologically speaking, the imperial household will come to a natural end. How would we be able to overcome the crisis?
Looking into the results of opinion poll, while a majority favors the idea of having a matrilineal emperor or empress regnant, there is a long-rooted staunch objection mainly from the conservatives. Even though the opposition might possibly tolerate an empress regnant, for which historical precedents exist, as a one-off stand-in, there is an extremely strong objection towards matrilineal emperors as it would signify the end to the unbroken imperial line from time immemorial, of which the Japanese imperial family is the only case in the world. This is why there has been an idea persistently floated to restore ex-imperial family branches, descendants in the male line, that were abandoned after the war. However, they have broken away from the imperial family for over 7 decades since the end of the war, and the question is whether there will be national consensus to support their sudden elevation. We can hardly say that we have such consensus.
Such being the case, no plan we have at the current stage is perfect, and we are constantly faced with the danger of split in public opinion or fissures in the country. Should we override objections and embark on a certain course, it could leave a serious issue in the future with respect to the emperor as the symbol, or what we call “our emperor”. Time is limited. At the same time, we need to have a thorough discussion. We must overcome the challenge of this seemingly contradictory task. For this to happen, we have no choice but to start the debate immediately, laying out all possible options on the table with a view to hammering out a solution.
It is truly unfortunate that such a basis for discussion has not been fostered at all. Who are to blame? It all boils down to the lack of sense of crisis permeating the government and the nation. Today, we are pressed with the need for having an acute sense of crisis, rather than just bidding a reluctant farewell to Heisei or congratulating the beginning of Reiwa. This could be the way to put us on the threshold of our future. We need to learn a lesson from both Showa and Heisei era where we tended to avoid tackling highly contentious issues, in the hope that somebody would somehow solve the problem for us.
We have a long way to go to reach a solution that would be accepted universally and cuts the Gordian knot. Such a solution may not even exist after all. However, “continuation of the imperial family” may be the sole national consensus we have at the moment. Thus we have no other choice but to posit this as our top priority, and strive to work for a solution. After all, should we lose the imperial family, there would no longer be the unbroken imperial line from time immemorial for us to protect.
Chino Keiko is a freelance journalist and Guest Columnist of the Sankei Shimbun.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
新しい令和の時代の喫緊の課題とは
千野 境子 / ジャーナリスト
2019年 6月 25日
平成３１年から令和元年へ、新しい御世が始まった。上皇陛下の譲位のご意向の表明に始まって新天皇陛下即位までの３年余、生前譲位による皇位継承は憲政史上初、日本人の誰も経験したことのない「未知との遭遇」だっただけに不安や懸念も指摘された。しかしこれまでのところプロセスは予期された以上の好感を得ながら成功裏に進んでいる。
4月30日、皇居前には雨をも厭わず、平成最後を惜別するように人々が多数佇んでいた。そして1日改元。一転して5月4日の一般参賀には日の丸の小旗を打ち振り、喜び一杯の十数万の人々が皇居前を埋め尽くした。
テレビのインタビューに人々が「午前3時に来ました」「平成の平和を令和も続けてほしい」「これからは若い私たちが令和の時代を担う責任がある」「私はリタイヤするのに、陛下はこれからが大仕事。頑張ってほしいです」―そう口々に語る姿に、私は敗戦ゆえの「象徴天皇」が今ではすっかり国民の統合になりつつあるのを感じた。もちろん上皇・上皇后の「国民に寄り添う」姿勢を常に顕し続けられた努力の賜物だが、国民もまた「象徴としての天皇像を模索する」果てしなく遠い道を、結果的に支えたのである。
その意味で、やはり先のテレビ・インタビューで天皇のこれからの役割に相当数の人々が「国際的な活躍」を期待していたのも、新しい皇室像を示唆し、明るい気分を味わった。日本は内向きであってはいけない。そのことを人々が意識するにせよしないにせよ、思っていることの証ではないかと。
しかしまただからこそ、私は皇位を継承する剣璽等承継の儀を、寂寥感と危機感とで見つめざるをえなかった。「三種の神器」の剣と璽を恭しく持つ侍従を前にした天皇陛下の左右には、この日を以て皇嗣となる秋篠宮さまと常陸宮さまの2人しかいない。未成年のため儀式には不在の悠仁さまを加えても、皇位を継承出来る男性皇族はたった3人、上皇の弟である常陸宮はご高齢である。
新しい令和の時代、日本は平成から引き続き、政治、経済、外交、社会等さまざまな課題に直面している。しかし以上を鑑みれば、皇位継承問題が喫緊の課題であることは間違いないだろう。
周知のように小泉政権下では女系・女性天皇に道を開く皇室典範改正案が国会提出寸前まで行った。しかし秋篠宮妃のご懐妊により見送られ、野田政権も女性宮家創設を含む女性皇族論議を始めたが道半ばに終わり、今日に至っている。悠仁さまのご誕生に安堵した国民は少なくないが、危機は先送りされた。そして歳月が経過した分危機の度合いはむしろ進んだと言える。
このままでは生物学的に皇室は自然消滅してしまうと指摘する向きは強い。どのように危機を打開したらよいのだろうか。
この間、世論調査を見ると女系・女性天皇は過半数前後と、相対的に賛成を得られているものの、保守派を中心に根強い反対がある。とくに歴史的に先例があり一代限りのピンチヒッター的要素も濃い女性天皇は別として、女系天皇は世界でも日本の皇室だけという万世一系の伝統がこれ（女系天皇）を以て終焉すると極めて強固な反対がある。従って男性を擁し、戦後廃止された旧宮家復活の期待論は一貫して根強くあるが、戦後70年以上も皇族を離れていての復活には、国民のコンセンサスが果たして得られるか、未だ総意を得るには至っていないと言えるのではないかと思われる。
つまり現状ではどの案も八方良しとは参らず、国論の分裂、分断を招く危険と背中合わせである。それを敢えて押し切り、踏み切って実現するのは象徴天皇即ち「私たちの天皇」への禍根を残すことになりかねない。時間はないが、議論は十二分に尽くすという一見矛盾する困難を克服しなければならない。考え得るあらゆる方策をすべてたたき台に乗せ、論議を尽くすことを早急に開始するほかないだろう。
もっとも残念ながらそのような状況が今醸成されているとは言い難い。何故か。それは政府から国民まで危機感の不足である。平成を惜別し令和を寿ぐだけでなく、今は危機意識がもっと必要なのだ。それこそが出発点かもしれない。昭和も平成も、ともすれば事を荒立てたくない、誰かが何とかしてくれるだろうという気分が勝ってしまったのは反省材料である。
一刀両断出来る、また万人が納得する解決策への道は遠く、あるいはないかもしれない。ただ現時点で唯一とも言える国民的コンセンサスは「皇室の継続」であろう。それを最優先に答えを導き出して行くほかない。皇室がなくなってしまっては守るべき万世一系だってないのだから。
筆者はフリーランスジャーナリスト、産経新聞客員論説委員
4月30日、皇居前には雨をも厭わず、平成最後を惜別するように人々が多数佇んでいた。そして1日改元。一転して5月4日の一般参賀には日の丸の小旗を打ち振り、喜び一杯の十数万の人々が皇居前を埋め尽くした。
テレビのインタビューに人々が「午前3時に来ました」「平成の平和を令和も続けてほしい」「これからは若い私たちが令和の時代を担う責任がある」「私はリタイヤするのに、陛下はこれからが大仕事。頑張ってほしいです」―そう口々に語る姿に、私は敗戦ゆえの「象徴天皇」が今ではすっかり国民の統合になりつつあるのを感じた。もちろん上皇・上皇后の「国民に寄り添う」姿勢を常に顕し続けられた努力の賜物だが、国民もまた「象徴としての天皇像を模索する」果てしなく遠い道を、結果的に支えたのである。
その意味で、やはり先のテレビ・インタビューで天皇のこれからの役割に相当数の人々が「国際的な活躍」を期待していたのも、新しい皇室像を示唆し、明るい気分を味わった。日本は内向きであってはいけない。そのことを人々が意識するにせよしないにせよ、思っていることの証ではないかと。
しかしまただからこそ、私は皇位を継承する剣璽等承継の儀を、寂寥感と危機感とで見つめざるをえなかった。「三種の神器」の剣と璽を恭しく持つ侍従を前にした天皇陛下の左右には、この日を以て皇嗣となる秋篠宮さまと常陸宮さまの2人しかいない。未成年のため儀式には不在の悠仁さまを加えても、皇位を継承出来る男性皇族はたった3人、上皇の弟である常陸宮はご高齢である。
新しい令和の時代、日本は平成から引き続き、政治、経済、外交、社会等さまざまな課題に直面している。しかし以上を鑑みれば、皇位継承問題が喫緊の課題であることは間違いないだろう。
周知のように小泉政権下では女系・女性天皇に道を開く皇室典範改正案が国会提出寸前まで行った。しかし秋篠宮妃のご懐妊により見送られ、野田政権も女性宮家創設を含む女性皇族論議を始めたが道半ばに終わり、今日に至っている。悠仁さまのご誕生に安堵した国民は少なくないが、危機は先送りされた。そして歳月が経過した分危機の度合いはむしろ進んだと言える。
このままでは生物学的に皇室は自然消滅してしまうと指摘する向きは強い。どのように危機を打開したらよいのだろうか。
この間、世論調査を見ると女系・女性天皇は過半数前後と、相対的に賛成を得られているものの、保守派を中心に根強い反対がある。とくに歴史的に先例があり一代限りのピンチヒッター的要素も濃い女性天皇は別として、女系天皇は世界でも日本の皇室だけという万世一系の伝統がこれ（女系天皇）を以て終焉すると極めて強固な反対がある。従って男性を擁し、戦後廃止された旧宮家復活の期待論は一貫して根強くあるが、戦後70年以上も皇族を離れていての復活には、国民のコンセンサスが果たして得られるか、未だ総意を得るには至っていないと言えるのではないかと思われる。
つまり現状ではどの案も八方良しとは参らず、国論の分裂、分断を招く危険と背中合わせである。それを敢えて押し切り、踏み切って実現するのは象徴天皇即ち「私たちの天皇」への禍根を残すことになりかねない。時間はないが、議論は十二分に尽くすという一見矛盾する困難を克服しなければならない。考え得るあらゆる方策をすべてたたき台に乗せ、論議を尽くすことを早急に開始するほかないだろう。
もっとも残念ながらそのような状況が今醸成されているとは言い難い。何故か。それは政府から国民まで危機感の不足である。平成を惜別し令和を寿ぐだけでなく、今は危機意識がもっと必要なのだ。それこそが出発点かもしれない。昭和も平成も、ともすれば事を荒立てたくない、誰かが何とかしてくれるだろうという気分が勝ってしまったのは反省材料である。
一刀両断出来る、また万人が納得する解決策への道は遠く、あるいはないかもしれない。ただ現時点で唯一とも言える国民的コンセンサスは「皇室の継続」であろう。それを最優先に答えを導き出して行くほかない。皇室がなくなってしまっては守るべき万世一系だってないのだから。
筆者はフリーランスジャーナリスト、産経新聞客員論説委員
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟