More than 60% of people polled by Kyodo News over the weekend support the idea of allowing princesses to retain their place in the imperial family even after marriage as part of measures to address the shrinking Japanese royal family. In the nationwide telephone survey conducted Saturday and Sunday, 61
More than 60% of people polled by Kyodo News over the weekend support the idea of allowing princesses to retain their place in the imperial family even after marriage as part of measures to address the shrinking Japanese royal family.
In the nationwide telephone survey conducted Saturday and Sunday, 61.3% said princesses should be allowed to establish branches of the imperial family after marrying commoners, while 26% opposed the idea.
While the number of imperial family members has declined, the Imperial House Law continues to stipulate that female members forfeit their royal status when they marry commoners.
It is believed that the issue of the shrinking imperial family needs to be tackled with a sense of urgency.
Currently Prince Hisahito, the 11-year-old son of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, is the only male in the generation of Emperor Akihito’s grandchildren, and Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of the emperor, will leave the family following her planned marriage next November.
The survey also asked about the emperor’s roles after his abdication in 2019.
More than half the respondents, or 54.4%, supported the „limited involvement“ of the former emperor, or joko after he abdicates, in official duties which he conducted as emperor, while 39.
