Tokyo (AsiaNews) – The Japanese parliament has approved two measures strongly supported by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, namely the reform of the Imperial House Law and a new law criminalising the desecration of the national flag. The aim of both is to strengthen some of the country's symbolic institutions, in line with the government's right-wing agenda.
This is the first substantial revision to the Imperial Household Law since 1947, with two new features: first, adult males from the eleven collateral branches of the imperial family excluded after World War II can be adopted; second, princesses will be able to retain their imperial status even if they marry a commoner, thus preventing the imperial family from further shrinking.
Princess Aiko, the only daughter of 66-year-old Emperor Naruhito, is again excluded from ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne, a decision slammed by the opposition and a majority of public opinion. According to a poll published in May by the Kyodo news agency, 83 per cent of respondents support the principle of empress regnant (ruling suo jure, in her own right).
In parliament, when the bill was discussed, the issue of female succession was excluded from the outset because the government has always backed the exclusivity of the male line.
Takaichi, a member of the more right-wing faction in the Liberal Democratic Party, called the reform necessary “to ensure a stable number of imperial family members," adding that the new dispensation could be reviewed every 30 years.
On the same day, parliament also approved a law, proposed by the far-right Sanseito party, introducing the offence of desecrating the national flag. Anyone who burns, damages, or defaces the Hinomaru in a way that causes "strong discomfort or disgust" could be sentenced to up to two years in prison or a fine of 200,000 yen (about $ US$ 1,200).
Sohei Kamiya, leader of the extremist party, introduced the bill to the House of Representatives in October, claiming that some people had shown up at his election rallies holding a Japanese flag with an "X" drawn on it.
According to some local commentators, the act was not directed at Japan itself, but was clearly a protest against Sanseito’s far-right positions.
The prime minister, who has repeatedly supported Sanseito's stance to avoid losing its support, justified the measure saying that it addresses a contradiction in law: in Japan, desecrating flags of foreign countries was already punishable, but doing the same to the national flag was not.
For Takaichi, this disparity “doesn’t make sense”. What is more, her government also pointed out that similar laws already exist in other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and India.
Criticism was swift. The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper compared the recent measures to prewar regulations that protected the imperial family from criticism, while Human Rights Watch called for the flag law's repeal, fearing it could be used to curb protests.
On Japanese social media, many users wondered exactly what actions would be punishable.
In Japan, flag desecration is a very rare occurrence. Unlike Germany and Italy, the other Axis powers in World War II, Japan did not change its flag after the war.
Even today, government officials are required to bow to the flag when entering or leaving a room.
For Takaichi, the adoption of the two laws is major legislative success before the summer recess and highlights her government's focus on policies that strengthen the symbols of the monarchy and national identity, issues that have been at the centre of political debates in Japan for a long time.
