I Cannot Go Along With This “Bizarre” Logic
—From the July 2025 Edition of the Opinion Review: Yomiuri’s Proposal on Female-line Emperors and the “Rice Riot of Reiwa”—
By Hiroshi Kawase, Deputy Chief Editorial Writer (Published June 26, 2025)
◎ Bewilderment Over Yomiuri’s Proposal to Accept a Female-line Emperor
A lingering sense of “Why…?” still remains.
This refers to the Yomiuri Shimbun’s proposal, published in its May 15 edition, which suggests recognizing a “female-line emperor”—an unprecedented notion in Japanese history. Although Yomiuri claims it is to “ensure the stable continuation of the Imperial line,” the content would, in fact, sever that very lineage.
◎ Even a Prime Ministerial Advisor Called It “Bizarre”
“What an utterly bizarre front page. I had to do a double-take—I thought it was the Asahi Shimbun.”
These were the words posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Prime Ministerial Advisor Akihisa Nagashima. Many readers likely shared his sentiment.
◎ Critique by Seiron Magazine
The special issue of Seiron titled “The Logic of Imperial Succession” thoroughly critiques just how “bizarre” Yomiuri’s proposal is.
Reitaku University professor Hideyuki Yagi provides a clear overview at the beginning, so let us follow his explanation to break down the proposal.
Yomiuri’s four-point proposal includes: (1) prioritizing the continuation of the Imperial line, (2) preserving the symbolic role of the Emperor, (3) establishing female imperial branches, and (4) granting imperial status to the husbands and children of female members.
Points (1) and (2) are not contentious. The problem lies in (3) and (4).
◎ A Departure From the Government Report
Discussions on stable succession have been based on the government report submitted to the Diet by Prime Minister Kishida’s cabinet in January 2022 (Reiwa 4).
This report suggested, as a means to ensure sufficient numbers in the Imperial Family, that female members could retain their status after marriage—but as individuals, not as heads of newly formed branches.
Moreover, their husbands and children would remain commoners, maintaining the rights and duties of ordinary citizens. This was to avoid any pathway to female-line succession.
Eight parties—including the LDP, Komeito, Japan Innovation Party, and the Democratic Party for the People—supported this direction, and the debate was nearing resolution.
◎ Yomiuri’s Contradictory Overturn and Double Standard
Yomiuri’s proposal seeks to upend that consensus. It even goes so far as to state that “in the future, the possibility of a female-line emperor should not be excluded, and realistic options should be considered.”
Meanwhile, Yomiuri is critical of another proposal in the government report: restoring male-line descendants from the former imperial branches through adoption into the current Imperial Family.
In its May 15 editorial, Yomiuri questioned public acceptance, saying: “Those from the former branches have long lived as ordinary citizens. Would people accept granting them succession rights suddenly?”
While rejecting the return of male-line descendants from the former imperial family due to their current commoner status, Yomiuri proposes granting imperial status to commoners who marry female royals.
Yagi dismisses this as “a double standard lacking the ability to properly weigh consequences.”
◎ Masaru Kurayama’s Historical Refutation
Female-line descendants are not part of the Imperial line to begin with.
Imperial historian Masaru Kurayama, writing in the same Seiron feature, explains:
From the first Emperor Jimmu to the current Emperor, all 126 sovereigns have been succeeded through the male line. While there have been eight female emperors, all were also male-line descendants when tracing their fathers.
This applies not only to emperors but to all male imperial family members, who are exclusively male-line descendants. The Imperial Family has accepted many commoner women, but never a single non-male-line man.
According to Kurayama, the logic of “since male-line succession is at an impasse, we should accept female or female-line emperors” is no better than saying: “Since the candle is about to go out, just switch it to a light bulb.”
There are still several male-line descendants from the former imperial branches. To borrow Kurayama’s metaphor: the candle still has a flame.
In addition to essays by Yagi and Kurayama, Seiron features contributions from author Tsuneyasu Takeda and Nihon University Professor Emeritus Akira Momochi—all defending the legitimacy of male-line succession. The collection will surely serve as a textbook for readers building their own arguments.
◎ The “Reiwa Rice Riot” Is Also Bizarre
Speaking of “bizarre,” the so-called “Reiwa Rice Riot” has been nothing short of odd.
Nationwide average rice prices, which had hovered around 2,200 yen per 5kg a year ago, suddenly surged past 4,600 yen at one point.
In this context, Bungei Shunjū conducted a long interview with Shinjiro Koizumi, who had just been appointed Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on May 21.
Known for his eloquence inherited from his father, Koizumi has often been accused of lacking substance—a trait that was on full display.
◎ Muddled Exchanges
Nonfiction writer Shinnosuke Kubota conducted the interview and began by asking for Koizumi’s view on the causes of the rice price spike.
Koizumi responded, “First, we must curb the abnormal surge right before our eyes,” then launched into a completely unrelated speech.
When Kubota tried to return to the topic, asking again, “Let me rephrase: what caused the price spike?” Koizumi replied, “We need to create an environment that supports those willing to grow rice.”
Even after a third attempt—“So why did the Reiwa Rice Riot happen?”—Koizumi only offered platitudes: “We must reflect on what needs reflecting, and move forward.”
Without understanding the cause, how can one implement effective measures?
Koizumi’s passion—his pledge to “do whatever it takes” to lower rice prices—was palpable.
But the question remains whether it will translate into results.
We hope this “bizarre” rice crisis is resolved as quickly as possible.
◎ A Truly “Bizarre” Argument in Sekai
Another noteworthy piece in the July issue is the left-leaning Sekai magazine’s feature, “The Politics of Hatred.”
Kohei Kurahashi, an associate professor at Soka University, addresses the Kurdish issue, condemning conservatives and right-wingers as “xenophobes.”
According to Kurahashi, such xenophobes view Kurds and other outsiders as targets to be expelled “in order to maintain the hierarchy of Japanese (male) society.”
He claims that Japanese society maintains the dominance of the Japanese by constantly “discovering barbarism around them” and attacking or discriminating against it.
Now that is truly “bizarre.”
I simply cannot go along with such logic.
The real issue is whether the people involved are abiding by laws and regulations. (Honorifics omitted)
