日本自民黨憲法調查會于11月提出了引人注目的修憲大綱草案，提議確認天皇為國家元首，并允許女性擔任天皇。在天皇地位方面，草案稱天皇是“國家元首，日本歷史、傳統、文化和統一的象征”，而王位繼承應是血脈相承，“與性別無關”。外電報道如下：The Japanese government hopes to make changes to the constitution that will allow a woman to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne within "several years," a news report said.

The government hopes to make the change after consulting a panel of experts, the Mainichi Shimbun said, without citing its sources.

Polls have indicated public support for female succession of the throne, as no male heirs have been born into the royal family in nearly four decades.

The government was also considering allowing female members of the royal family to keep their imperial status even after they marry commoners, the newspaper said.

Chrysanthemum Throne表示“天皇王位”，因為菊花是日本的國花（櫻花是民間國花），也是日本皇室的徽標。在日本，菊花代表長生不老，也是勢力、尊嚴和崇高的象征，因此日本皇室被稱為“菊花皇室”。

美聯社評論說，這段有關繼承方法的修改是為現實所迫的無奈之舉，很少有日本人會對此提出異議。畢竟皇太子德仁與皇太子妃小和田雅子結婚多年只育有1個女兒，而日本皇室已有大約40年未添男丁。

（中國日報網站編）