Prince Tomohito of Mikasa

While calls have been growing to revise the Imperial House Law to allow female monarchs, it is the first time an Imperial family member's views on the issue have been made known.

The views of the 56-year-old prince were expressed in a Sept. 30 issue newsletter of the Hakuhokai welfare organization he leads.

"It is a political issue and I am supposed to stay out of it. . . . I wonder if it is advisable to change in such an easy manner in his majesty's reign of Heisei our nation's unique history and tradition."

The prince proposed measures to preserve the male tradition of succession by having male members of former Imperial branch families return to Imperial status and bring back concubines to increase the chances of producing a male heir, noting that the two emperors prior to the Emperor Hirohito were sons of concubines.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 12, 2005
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