Japan's emperor system has always been the world's attention, however, today's Japanese imperial family is in an unprecedented predicament. This article will review the historical background and explore the current state of the modern Japanese emperor system, as well as the future development prospects.
When we look back at the history of Japan's emperor system, we can see its glory and decline. In the past, the emperor of Japan could make the people of the whole country crazy with just one face, but during the war of aggression against China, the so-called emperor could mobilize the youth of the whole country to participate in the war with a single order. However, today's emperor system no longer has its former glory, and its influence is gradually declining.
At present, the number of members of the Japanese imperial family is sparse, and only one young prince, Prince Yuhito, is pinned on the future of the imperial family. However, he faced significant challenges because his father, Emperor Naruhito, did not have a son, and because he was so old, it became unrealistic to have another child. This is a great shame for the Japanese imperial family, because according to the imperial model, not having a son would be considered a renunciation of royal status.
One might ask if Emperor Naruhito's daughter could retain her imperial status and become the next empress if she married a man who was also a member of the imperial family. However, with the membership of the Japanese imperial family already extremely limited, the risks and social pressures of marriage between close relatives made this option nearly impossible. Therefore, Emperor Naruhito's three daughters did not help much in the future of the imperial family.
However, just when the situation seemed hopeless, Princess Kiko, wife of Emperor Naruhito's younger brother, Prince Fumihito, gave birth to Yuhito, the first male member of the Japanese imperial family in 56 years. Yuhito's birth was seen as a savior for the imperial family, because if Emperor Naruhito had no heirs to inherit the throne, the throne would automatically pass to his younger brother, Prince Fumihito, who was already in old age, so Yuhito's arrival relieved the urgent needs of the imperial family.
However, Yuren's birth was not smooth, he was born prematurely and faced many health problems at birth. Despite this, the Japanese imperial family rendered it into a celebration, and Yuhito became the focal point. However, this sparked discontent among the population, who began to question the high expenditure of the royal family, believing that it was a waste of taxpayers' money.
Yuhito's grandfather, Emperor Akihito, was very happy about his birth, but the people were troubled by the excessive packaging of Yuhito by the imperial family and the media. Yuren was advertised as a child prodigy, but this propaganda was questioned. Yuren's performance was not widely recognized, and his demeanor and education level were questioned.
Yuren's education and lifestyle have also caused controversy. He was treated specially, living in an extremely protective environment with little opportunity to interact with the outside world. This protection makes him appear different from ordinary children and lacks general social experience.
Some people may ask, why did Yuren become such a dumb child? This is related to the long-standing tradition of marriage between close relatives of the Japanese imperial family. Marriage between close relatives increases the risk of genetic mutations and genetic diseases, which can lead to problems such as decreased IQ. However, the Japanese imperial family has adhered to this tradition for hundreds of years, resulting in the current sparse number of members of the imperial family and the prominence of genetic problems.
In addition, Yuren's expenses have also caused social discontent. He lived extravagantly, wearing high-value clothing at great cost every public appearance. These expenses actually come from Japanese taxpayers, as the expenses of the royal family are entirely borne by the government, amounting to 60 trillion yen a year.
However, the high incomes of members of the Japanese imperial family contrasted sharply with the standard of living of the population, which caused widespread discontent. Yuhito's behavior and rhetoric are also troubling, and he often behaves impolitely in public, tarnishing the image of the royal family.
Faced with this situation, the Japanese government has proposed two solutions. One is to adopt a child to inherit the throne, but this will mean giving up Yuhito.