Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, considered a candidate to be the next prime minister, said Tuesday he supports the idea that females and their descendants should be allowed to ascend the Imperial throne.
"I think continuity means a lot to the Imperial system. We must admit that it is difficult to maintain the male-line tradition as the Imperial family has many female children," Tanigaki said at a news conference in which he spoke on issues ranging from public finance to his vision for Japan's future.
"It's time to make a decision" to avoid an expected succession crisis, Tanigaki said.
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