A senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker stated that Princess Aiko cannot become Japan's reigning monarch under current law. Hirofumi Nakasone made the comments during a speech in Toyama Prefecture.
Hirofumi Nakasone, 80, a former foreign minister who leads the LDP's constitutional reform headquarters, spoke on Sunday in Takaoka. He said Princess Aiko's accession would be out of the question under the 1947 Imperial House Law.
Nakasone added that if the 24-year-old princess became empress while unmarried, no one would want to marry her due to the pressure involved. He also noted she would face tremendous pressure to produce a male heir.
The Imperial House Law limits succession to male descendants in the paternal line. Public opinion polls indicate strong support for allowing a female emperor, though the LDP has remained cautious.
Nakasone said the matter is not a popularity vote and must be discussed calmly based on the law. He warned that without understanding the legal framework, the debate could go in the wrong direction.