Japan may allow women to ascend throne
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-20 14:13

The Japanese government will submit a bill that would allow women to ascend Japan's imperial throne, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told Parliament on Friday.

"In order that the imperial throne be continued into the future in a stable manner, the government will submit a bill to reform the Imperial Household Law," the premier said in a speech at the opening session of Parliament.

Under the 1947 Imperial Household Law, only males who have emperors on their father's side can assume the throne. However, Japan is facing a succession crisis with no boy born to the family since the 1960s.

An independent panel in November recommended revising the law to allow the first-born child of either sex to ascend the Chrysanthemum throne.

The revision, if approved, is expected to make Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako's only child Aiko — who celebrated her 4th birthday last month — second in line to the throne, behind her father.

Support for the change is high. A poll last year by the nationwide newspaper Asahi showed 78 percent of the respondents were in favor of a reigning empress.

Eight empresses have ruled Japan in the last 1,500 years, the most recent being Gosakuramachi, who reigned from 1762 to 1770.