Emperor Akihito, speaking before his 72nd birthday Friday, spoke favorably about the role of the female members of the Imperial family, though he declined comment on a report by a government panel on the Imperial succession that proposes allowing females to ascend the throne.
The Emperor, in comments released by the Imperial Household Agency, said women have "played major roles" in the royal family up to now, adding he feels their presence brings "some very good elements," such as warmth and encouragement, to the people on both public and private occasions.
The Imperial family is expected to face drastic changes if the current Imperial House Law is revised according to the panel recommendations, which were submitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Nov. 24 as a way to ensure a stable succession, given that no male heir has been born to the royal family in the last 40 years.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.