Japanese oppose woman monarch

Published March 8, 2006

TOKYO: Thousands of people gathered under a huge rising sun flag at a Tokyo stadium on Tuesday to protest against a proposal to allow women and their children to accede to Japan’s ancient Chrysanthemum throne.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last month abandoned a plan to submit a bill to parliament to let women inherit the imperial throne, following news that Princess Kiko, the wife of the current Emperor’s younger son, was pregnant with what many hope will be a male heir.

The rally attracted men and women from across the country. Speakers warned that the plan to revise the imperial succession law could still be resurrected.—Reuters

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