Princess Aiko, daughter of Emperor Naruhito, in Tokyo/AP
Japan’s beloved Princess Aiko is often hailed as a pop star.
During a visit to Nagasaki with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, the sound of her name, shouted by well-wishers in the streets, drowned out the cheers for her parents.
She turned 24 yesterday, and her supporters want to change Japan’s male succession law, which prohibits Aiko, the emperor’s only daughter, from becoming king.
Nephew, the only one eligible
Along with the frustration that debate over the rules of succession has stalled, there is a sense of urgency: Japan’s dwindling monarchy is on the brink of extinction. Naruhito’s teenage nephew is the only eligible heir of the younger generation.
Experts say the ban on female succession must be lifted before the royal family is extinct, but conservative lawmakers, including Sanae Takaishi, the country’s prime minister, oppose the change.
Aiko has gained fans since her debut as an adult royal in 2021, when she impressed fans who described her as smart, kind, loving and friendly. Support for Aiko as a future king increased after her first official solo trip abroad, to Laos, in November, to represent the emperor. During the six-day visit, he met with senior Lao officials, visited cultural and historical sites, and met local residents.
Earlier this year, Aiko accompanied her parents to Nagasaki and Okinawa. He followed the example of his father, who attached great importance to conveying the tragedy of World War II to the younger generations.
“I have always supported the coronation of Princess Aiko,” said Setsuko Matsuo, 82, an atomic bomb survivor who went to Nagasaki’s Peace Park hours before Aiko and her parents were scheduled to arrive in the area. “I love everything about her, especially her relaxed smile,” he said.
Mary Mahira, a 58-year-old administrative employee who was waiting to cheer on Aiko in Nagasaki, said she had watched her grow up and “now we want to see her become a future king.”
The princess’s popularity prompted some to pressure lawmakers to change the law. Yoshinori Kobayashi, a manga artist, has written comics urging legal change that would allow Aiko to become king, and his supporters are constantly sending them to parliamentarians to raise awareness and gain their support for the cause. Others created YouTube channels and distributed brochures to draw public attention to the issue. Ikuko Yamazaki, 62, used social media to call for the succession of the emperor’s eldest son, regardless of gender.