As it stands, Japan's constitution does not contain any provisions for national defense or the eventuality of an emergency. The Diet cannot put these off. Published on By The current session of the is scheduled to end on June 23.
During the remaining hours, it will be difficult for the political parties to reach a consensus on the most vital issues. These include ensuring a stable framework for and drafting . Both of these are core issues related to the very foundations of the state.
Dealing with them should not wait until the next Diet session. Instead, the Diet session should be extended and move forward on these points. Prime Minister and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito should make that decision.
When the Special Act on the Abdication of His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus was passed, the Diet also adopted a related government report through a supplementary resolution. It represented a "legislative consensus" on measures to ensure stable succession to the throne. Moreover, discussions on the subject have begun between the ruling and opposition parties.
These are being led by House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga and Upper House Speaker Hidehisa Otsuji. Hopefully, they will reach a consensus based on Japan's "history and tradition" of male (patrilineal) succession. That is an important principle of the imperial line.
Among the proposals in the government report were suggestions aimed at maintaining a suitable size for the imperial family by: S.
