The Imperial Family's Cage

Wow, all the articles this week were fascinating and deserve a deep dive. I wish we could have an extra long session this week.

The article that I found most novel was about the controversy around Prince Akishino's statement criticizing the state pouring funds into the Shinto traditions that will be performed when the new Emperor ascends the throne. The Japanese constitution says that the Emperor must not be involved in politics, which leads to a debate about whether this rule applies to the whole Imperial family. Additionally, the statement draws attention to the division of religion and state in Japan.

I found this situation really interesting and kind of felt bad for the Imperial family. They are literally a vestigial institution that exists only because the people didn't want to abandon the royal family after the end of WWII. Today, there is probably almost no one who believes in re-empowering the Emperor, Meiji Restoration style. Thus fearing a politically active Imperial family member may lead to a restoration of Imperial power seems a bit far fetched. Additionally, this fear essentially strips Japanese citizens of a fundamental right in any well-functioning democracy, the ability to be a part of public discourse and the future of the nation. To me the obvious choice is, which I think applies to most vestigial royal families in Asia and Europe, is the abolish this strange porcelain cage that the descendants of former Kings and Queens are trapped in. Eliminate the Imperial houses and allow these people to live normal lives and become well-functioning members of the democracy. Of course they may have immediate public clout by being descendants of the Imperial family, but that will fade with time if you abolish the house. Keeping the Imperial family just kicks this unnecessary problem down the road.

On the issue of separation of church and state, I am an ardent supporter of this separation. However, in Japan I haven't met too many people who have deep religious beliefs, like in the United States. Instead things like a Shinto ritual seem more cultural than religious. So depending on how the people interpret these rituals I can see an argument where they are merely cultural and not religious. On the other hand, I can also see an argument where by treating Shinto rituals as cultural you are just entrenching Shintoism and making it a more powerful religion. We see this in the United States with "cultural" traditions, such as the President being sworn in while placing their hand on a bible. Only three Presidents in history have chosen not to take the oath with a religious text and the last one was in 1901. While not a rule, it is a cultural event that clearly entrenches Christianity in America's social fabric.