Japan protests UN call to review male-only royal succession

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Japan lodged a formal protest with a UN human rights watchdog on Wednesday after it urged a review of Japan’s centuries-old male-only imperial succession law, which limits heirs to male descendants of the emperor's paternal line.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called the recommendation “extremely regrettable,” stating that Japan’s imperial succession system is fundamental to the nation, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

Japan previously informed the UN panel working to eliminate discrimination against women that addressing the succession law would be "inappropriate," prior to the watchdog’s latest review released Tuesday.

“It is extremely regrettable that the final report included a reference to the Imperial House Law,” Hayashi said. “We have lodged a strong protest with the committee and again requested its removal.”

While the 1947 Imperial House Law is technically “not within the purview” of the committee, the UN report stated it considers the succession rule “contrary to the object and purpose” of the UN convention against discrimination toward women.

​​​​​​​The UN watchdog also called on Japan to reconsider its requirement for married couples to share the same surname, describing the law, which often compels women to adopt their husbands' surnames, as “discriminatory.” The Japanese government will review the report and “respond appropriately” while considering public opinion and parliamentary debate, Hayashi added.