Japan formally proclaims Crown Prince Akishino heir to throne
09 November, 2020
Japan formally proclaimed Crown Prince Akishino the first in line as heir to the throne on Sunday (Nov 8), the last of some ceremonies after his elder brother, Emperor Naruhito, became monarch this past year following their father's abdication.
The day-long ceremonies at the palace had been scheduled for April but were postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and also have been scaled back as infection keeps rising, although Japan has escaped the explosive outbreak observed in many other countries.
Under Japanese law, only males can inherit the throne, so Naruhito's only offspring, 18-year-old Princess Aiko, is ineligible. Moves to amend regulations lost steam when Akishino's wife bore a son, Hisahito, in 2006.
"I deeply ponder the duty of Crown Prince and can discharge my duties," Akishino in an orange robe said before attendees, the majority of whom were wearing masks, according to footage by public broadcaster NHK.
Akishino, 54, is among just three heirs to the throne along with Hisahito, 14, and Prince Hitachi, 84, younger brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who stepped down last year in Japan's first abdication in two centuries.
Changes to the succession law are anathema to conservatives, but debate over how exactly to ensure a well balanced succession is likely to intensify.
One option is to allow females, including Aiko and Hisahito's two elder sisters, to retain their imperial status after marriage and inherit or pass the throne to their children, a change that surveys show most ordinary Japanese favour.
Conservatives want to revive junior royal branches stripped of imperial status following the war.
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