Prince’s right to free speech a hot topic in Japan
1. A remark by Prince Akishino, who will become first in line to the throne next year, has stirred
controversy over how freely members of the Imperial family can speak about contentious matters
because the Constitution prohibits the head of the family from being involved in politics.
2. In a rare move for a royal, Prince Akishino, second son of the outgoing Emperor Akihito,
questioned the government’s decision to use a massive amount of public money for a Shinto-related
ritual to take place in November next year as part of the ascension of Crown Prince Naruhito.
3. “I wonder whether it is appropriate to cover the highly religious event with state funds,” the
prince said during a recent news conference for his 53rd birthday, baffling senior bureaucrats of the
Imperial Household Agency as well as many experts on royal family matters.
4. Major Japanese media outlets covered his comments extensively Friday morning, prompting
many in Japan to revisit not only the principle of the separation of state and religion, but the issue of
how freely members of the Imperial family can speak in public.
5. The Emperor and his family members have generally refrained from making political remarks as
the Constitution, compiled after Japan’s surrender in World War II, stipulates the emperor “shall
not have powers related to government.”
6. The prince has “crossed the line,” an official of the agency said. Another criticized the prince’s
remark, saying, “It is hard to understand why (the prince) stuck his nose into the matter of the
Crown Prince, who will engage in the rite.”
7. Emperor Akihito, his first son Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino typically give news
conferences ahead of their birthdays.
8. But only Prince Akishino speaks to reporters without prepared text on hand as a matter of
practice, which means his aides and other agency bureaucrats have few opportunities to know in
advance what he will say in public.
9. It was not the first time that remarks made by Prince Akishino have led to various disputes.
10. In 2004 Crown Prince Naruhito questioned the treatment of his ailing wife Masako, saying,
“There were developments that were regarded as denying her a career and going against her
personality.”
11. After the remark made headlines and worried the Emperor, Prince Akishino challenged his elder
brother, telling reporters that the Crown Prince should have made the remark through consultation
with their father in advance. A number of media outlets, including foreign media, highlighted the
apparent Imperial family split.
12. Prince Akishino also proposed Japan discuss setting a retirement age for the Emperor at his 2011
birthday news conference, years before the country authorized the abdication. The Emperor will
turn 85 on Dec. 23.
13. An official involved in the agency said, “It seems that the prince believes it is a good thing that
people know there are differences in the Imperial family.”
14. “It should not be a problem in light of the Constitution if a member of the Imperial family makes
such a remark,” said Koichi Yokota, an expert on the top law who serves as professor emeritus at
Kyushu University.
15. “The Constitution bans the emperor from involvement in government but does not mention royal
family members apart from the emperor,” Yokota said in support of Prince Akishino’s right to free
speech.
16. Isao Tokoro, another constitutional expert who serves as professor emeritus at Kyoto Sangyo
University, urged Prince Akishino to be more careful about his remarks.“I would like him to
recognize the weight of the position he will take six months later, and use caution when making
remarks, such as by consulting with people around him,” Tokoro said.
17. Nonfiction writer Masayasu Hosaka, who has written many books on modern Japanese history,
said, “I regarded the prince’s remark as a strong message from the Imperial family that they want
people to think seriously about the principle of separation of state and religion.”
Understanding
1. What was Prince Akishino’s claim?
2. Why did an official of the Imperial Household Agency say Prince Akishino has “crossed the line”?
Opinion
1. Do you think that Prince Akishino should be more careful about his remarks? Or Can he speak
more freely in public?
2. Since the Message from the Emperor (Aug 8, 2016), many things have discussed and changed.
Did anything change in your mind about the Japanese Imperial system?
3. If you are asked by your friends from other countries “What is TENNOU?”or “What is SYMBLE?", how would you answer?
controversy over how freely members of the Imperial family can speak about contentious matters
because the Constitution prohibits the head of the family from being involved in politics.
2. In a rare move for a royal, Prince Akishino, second son of the outgoing Emperor Akihito,
questioned the government’s decision to use a massive amount of public money for a Shinto-related
ritual to take place in November next year as part of the ascension of Crown Prince Naruhito.
3. “I wonder whether it is appropriate to cover the highly religious event with state funds,” the
prince said during a recent news conference for his 53rd birthday, baffling senior bureaucrats of the
Imperial Household Agency as well as many experts on royal family matters.
4. Major Japanese media outlets covered his comments extensively Friday morning, prompting
many in Japan to revisit not only the principle of the separation of state and religion, but the issue of
how freely members of the Imperial family can speak in public.
5. The Emperor and his family members have generally refrained from making political remarks as
the Constitution, compiled after Japan’s surrender in World War II, stipulates the emperor “shall
not have powers related to government.”
6. The prince has “crossed the line,” an official of the agency said. Another criticized the prince’s
remark, saying, “It is hard to understand why (the prince) stuck his nose into the matter of the
Crown Prince, who will engage in the rite.”
7. Emperor Akihito, his first son Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino typically give news
conferences ahead of their birthdays.
8. But only Prince Akishino speaks to reporters without prepared text on hand as a matter of
practice, which means his aides and other agency bureaucrats have few opportunities to know in
advance what he will say in public.
9. It was not the first time that remarks made by Prince Akishino have led to various disputes.
10. In 2004 Crown Prince Naruhito questioned the treatment of his ailing wife Masako, saying,
“There were developments that were regarded as denying her a career and going against her
personality.”
11. After the remark made headlines and worried the Emperor, Prince Akishino challenged his elder
brother, telling reporters that the Crown Prince should have made the remark through consultation
with their father in advance. A number of media outlets, including foreign media, highlighted the
apparent Imperial family split.
12. Prince Akishino also proposed Japan discuss setting a retirement age for the Emperor at his 2011
birthday news conference, years before the country authorized the abdication. The Emperor will
turn 85 on Dec. 23.
13. An official involved in the agency said, “It seems that the prince believes it is a good thing that
people know there are differences in the Imperial family.”
14. “It should not be a problem in light of the Constitution if a member of the Imperial family makes
such a remark,” said Koichi Yokota, an expert on the top law who serves as professor emeritus at
Kyushu University.
15. “The Constitution bans the emperor from involvement in government but does not mention royal
family members apart from the emperor,” Yokota said in support of Prince Akishino’s right to free
speech.
16. Isao Tokoro, another constitutional expert who serves as professor emeritus at Kyoto Sangyo
University, urged Prince Akishino to be more careful about his remarks.“I would like him to
recognize the weight of the position he will take six months later, and use caution when making
remarks, such as by consulting with people around him,” Tokoro said.
17. Nonfiction writer Masayasu Hosaka, who has written many books on modern Japanese history,
said, “I regarded the prince’s remark as a strong message from the Imperial family that they want
people to think seriously about the principle of separation of state and religion.”
Understanding
1. What was Prince Akishino’s claim?
2. Why did an official of the Imperial Household Agency say Prince Akishino has “crossed the line”?
Opinion
1. Do you think that Prince Akishino should be more careful about his remarks? Or Can he speak
more freely in public?
2. Since the Message from the Emperor (Aug 8, 2016), many things have discussed and changed.
Did anything change in your mind about the Japanese Imperial system?
3. If you are asked by your friends from other countries “What is TENNOU?”or “What is SYMBLE?", how would you answer?
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