News

Japan Declares Crown Prince Akishino Heir To Throne

Japan formally proclaimed Crown Prince Akishino would be the first in line as heir to the throne on Sunday, the last of a series of ceremonies after his elder brother, Emperor Naruhito, became monarch last year following their father’s abdication.

The day-long ceremonies at the palace had been scheduled for April but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and have been scaled back as infection keeps rising, although Japan has escaped the explosive outbreak seen in many other countries.

Under Japanese law, only males can inherit the throne. Because of that, Naruhito’s only offspring that is the precious 18-year-old Princess Aiko, is ineligible. Moves to amend the law lost steam when Akishino’s wife bore a son, Hisahito, in 2006.

Akishino in an orange robe standing in front of attendees, most of whom were wearing masks, according to footages by public broadcaster NHK said, “I deeply ponder the responsibility of Crown Prince and will discharge my duties”.

Akishino, 54, is one of just three heirs to the throne along with Hisahito, 14, and Prince Hitachi, 84, the younger brother of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who stepped down last year in Japan’s first abdication in two centuries.

Changes to the succession law are anathema to conservatives, but the debate over how to ensure a stable succession is likely to intensify.

One option is to allow females, including Aiko and Hisahito’s two elder sisters, to retain their imperial status after marriage and inheritor pass the throne to their children, a change that surveys show most ordinary Japanese favor.

Conservatives want to revive junior royal branches stripped of imperial status after the war.

Sources: BBC News.

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

Coca‑Cola Brings Back ‘Share a Coke’ Now With a Proudly Malaysian Twist

This Merdeka, Coca‑Cola is turning up the nostalgia and the local flavour. The iconic ‘Share… Read More

16 hours ago

11 Women, 8 Countries, 1 Dream: ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships 2025 Announced

Picture this: 11 brilliant women from across ASEAN are packing their bags, not just for… Read More

20 hours ago

L’Oréal Malaysia Celebrates 30 Years of Beauty Innovation and Impact

L’Oréal Groupe today marked its 30th anniversary in Malaysia, celebrating three decades of bringing world-class… Read More

20 hours ago

Smiles Are the New Flex, But 34% of Malaysians Still Hide Theirs

Smiles aren’t just cosmetic anymore they’re currency. But here’s the catch: 34% of people admit… Read More

20 hours ago

Malaysia’s Coffee Game Levels Up with NESCAFÉ Espresso Concentrate

Coffee culture isn’t slowing down anytime soon and Malaysia is now officially on the global… Read More

20 hours ago

Voices Through Colours: Young Neurodivergent Artists Shine at Manja KL

KL’s creative scene just got brighter with “Voices Through Colours”, an art exhibition that celebrated… Read More

20 hours ago

This website uses cookies.