No Women on the Throne: Japan Says ‘No’ to UN’s Call for Gender Equality in Royal Succession

The Japanese government has rejected the UN’s recommendation to permit women in the imperial line of succession.

According to Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya responded on November 1, “It is deplorable that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is making recommendations on issues fundamental to our state.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also rejected the UN’s input, stating, “This is unrelated to human rights.” At the same time, the far-right party Nippon Ishin no Kai argued that “the issue of imperial succession is one of culture and history.”

On October 29, after reviewing Japan’s policies on women, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women recommended that the Imperial Household Law be amended to allow women in the line of succession. This isn’t the first time the committee has made such a recommendation; similar calls were issued in 2003, 2009, and 2016. However, the Japanese delegation promptly objected, stating that “it is inappropriate for the Discrimination Committee to address the Imperial Household Law” and requested that this recommendation be removed.

Under the current Imperial Household Law, women of the imperial family must relinquish their royal status upon marriage and are ineligible for throne succession.

Under current law, female members of the Japanese imperial family lose their royal status upon marriage and are excluded from the line of succession. Emperor Naruhito’s sister, Princess Sayako, relinquished her royal status when she married a commoner, as did his niece, former Princess Mako, after her marriage.

Within Japan, there is a growing movement to amend the law, allowing women to retain their royal status post-marriage and to be considered in the line of succession. This push has intensified partly due to the shrinking imperial family. In 1994, the family had 26 members, but today only 17 remain, with an average age of 60.2. Currently, only three male heirs are eligible to succeed to the throne.

Another factor driving calls for reform is public dissatisfaction with the family of Crown Prince Fumihito, the first in line to the throne. Emperor Naruhito has only one child, Princess Aiko, who positions Prince Hisahito, Fumihito’s only son, as the likely future emperor. However, controversies surrounding the family, such as former Princess Mako’s marriage, have impacted public opinion.

Despite these concerns, political resistance to changing the Imperial Household Law remains strong. The Yomiuri Shimbun noted that Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had expressed support for discussing female succession before assuming office but has since taken a more cautious stance, facing pressure from opposing factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.