Prince Tomohito of Mikasa

The prince suggests in an article in the February edition of the monthly Bungei Shunju that the panel should explore other options, such as reinstating the royal status of Imperial branch families and said there is "no need to immediately" come to a decision.

The advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi proposed Nov. 24 allowing women and their descendants to ascend to the throne, given that no male heir has been born into the Imperial family for the last 40 years while ruling out having former Imperial branch family members return to royal status.

The prince says in the article, titled "Weight of the emperor's blood -- why I am opposed to a female-line emperor," that the Imperial household tradition has long been to have men who have emperors on their father's side reign and emphasizes that "no one could go against the weight of this blood."

He says Japanese people have tacit consent and a sense of respect toward this blood line.

He expresses concern that the Imperial family will become no different from ordinary families if it allows women monarchs, who would marry commoners.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 14, 2006
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