*** From My Diary ***
*** From Japan Report ***
[On Dec. 5]
How are you doing? Iwata desu (this is Iwata).
Recently, we received peaceful news in Japan. Princess Masako of Japanese Imperial family bore new baby. Since the terror attack in U.S., we had not have sooth news, but it is a light to relieve us. Not so many Japanese people are glad this news as you might guess watching TV and some are indifferent to it. But I can find some banners to congratulate the birth of new baby, which sets my mind at ease.
You may think Japanese Emperor has some right to govern Japanese society.
But he does not have right to commit politic. He has only authority to
represent Japanese people as symbol. Rather, therefore, some people say
Emperor and Imperial family are discriminated from the point of civil right.
In fact, they do not have the right to vote. It is because the authority
of the Imperial Household had been utilized in Japanese history. It is
found not only in modern epoch before World War
2, but also through the whole Japanese history. The time when Imperial
Household had right to rule Japan actually is very limited.
Then, after the World War 2, Japanese constitution decided Japanese
Emperor as the Symbol of Japan and restricted its right strictly. I cite
the first chapter of Japanese constitution that stipulate Japanese Emperor.
CHAPTER I. THE EMPEROR
Article 1. The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and
of the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the
people with whom resides sovereign power.
Article 2. The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded
to in accordance with the Imperial House Law passed by the Diet. Article
3. The advice and approval of the Cabinet shall be required for all acts
of the Emperor in matters of state, and the Cabinet shall be responsible
therefore.
Article 4. The Emperor shall perform only such acts in matters
of state as are provided for in the Constitution and he shall not have
powers related to government. The Emperor may delegate the performance
of his acts in matters of state as may be provided by law.
Article 5. When, in accordance with the Imperial House
Law, a Regency is established, the Regent shall perform his acts in matters
of state in the Emperor's name. In this case, paragraph one of the preceding
article will be applicable.
Article 6. The Emperor shall appoint the Prime Minister as designated
by Diet. The Emperor shall appoint the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court
as designated by the Cabinet.
Article 7. The Emperor, with the advice and approval of
the Cabinet, shall perform the following acts in matters of state on behalf
of the people:
Promulgation of amendments of the constitution,
laws, cabinet orders and treaties.
Convocation of the Diet.
Dissolution of the House of Representatives.
Proclamation of general election of members of the
Diet.
Attestation of the appointment and dismissal of
Ministers of State and other officials as provided for by law, and of full
powers and credentials of Ambassadors and Ministers.
Attestation of general and special amnesty, commutation
of punishments, reprieve, and restoration of rights.
Awarding of honors.
Attestation of instruments of ratification and other
diplomatic documents as provided for by law.
Receiving foreign ambassadors and ministers.
Performance of ceremonial functions.
Article 8. No property can be given to, or received by,
the Imperial House, nor can any gifts be made therefrom, without the authorization
of the Diet.
You will be able to surmise how important to decide the position of
Emperor after the War from the fact that Japanese constitution had to
decide its position primary.
Now the Imperial Household Law becomes the talk of Japanese people,
because it does not allow the existence of Empress but there are not
proper male successor in Imperial family. Moreover, Princess Masako
is
already a little old to expect more children.
Fortunately, the amendment of the Imperial Household Law will not so
difficult, because many Japanese people allow the girl will be Empress
in the future. But the problem will not cease with the amendment. The
most important point to consider Japanese Imperial family is they must
perform ideal family in front of Japanese nations. It is most different
point from British Royal family. Both families represent national
authorities, but British family does not need to perform ideal family,
although they need to show typical human family. Japanese Imperial
family is hereditary national entertainer to perform Japanese ideal.
In
this sense, they might be discriminated.
At the end, I update the corner of "A Window to Philosophy from
Real
World" in my Site. Please, click following URL.
A Window to Philosophy from Real World
http://www.oec-net.or.jp/~iwata/e-win.html
[On Dec. 30]