＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49) on X
(Reference) Original article in Japanese
・今こそ「天皇家の存続」より「天皇制廃止」の検討をすべき時期
What are your thoughts on the Imperial Family or the imperial system? While opinions certainly vary, I imagine many people simply take the existence of the imperial system for granted.
In fact, the government has consulted an “expert panel” regarding the future of the Imperial Family and has approved an outline for a final report based on the measures proposed by that panel to ensure a sufficient number of imperial family members—specifically, a plan allowing female members to remain in the family after marriage, and a plan for males in the male line of descent from former imperial branches (which left the imperial family after the war) to rejoin the family through adoption.
However, now that the pool of those eligible to succeed to the throne has dwindled, I believe it is time to return to basics and calmly reconsider and debate fundamental questions: Is an anachronistic class system like the imperial system truly necessary for modern-day Japan? Is there a need to perpetuate the imperial system at all?
1. How the general public perceives the Emperor and the Imperial system
I believe that the image held by many citizens—likely shaped by school education—is one that portrays the Emperor in a benevolent light. This view encompasses ideas such as: the Emperor belongs to an unbroken lineage spanning ages; the Japanese Imperial Family possesses the oldest history and traditions in the world; successive Emperors have governed wisely, guided by a compassionate heart that cherishes the people; Emperor Showa opposed the war but was unable to halt the military’s reckless actions; and the current Emperor is a figure truly worthy of being the symbol of Japan who stands close to the people.
As someone belonging to the “baby boomer” generation, I personally still strongly associate the title “Emperor” with Emperor Showa; I tend to think of the current Emperor Emeritus as the “Crown Prince,” and the current Emperor remains, in my mind, “Hiro-no-miya.”
・To me, the Emperor and Empress of the Heisei era—including their time as Crown Prince and Crown Princess—are the members of the Imperial Family with whom I feel the greatest sense of familiarity.
2. The Reality of “Regrettable Emperors” in History and Debates Surrounding the Imperial System
However, a dispassionate look back at history reveals the existence of many “regrettable emperors.” There are also accounts that compel us to question the “legitimacy” of the current Imperial Family.
(1) There have been many “regrettable emperors” in the past
Details on this topic are provided in the articles below; please take a look.
・After the war, Emperor Showa renounced his status as a living god and issued the “Humanity Declaration”; he accepted no responsibility for the war and did not abdicate.
・Hiromichi Kumazawa (Emperor Kumazawa), who claimed to belong to the Southern Court lineage, was a fraud who falsely claimed the throne!
・Was Toranosuke Omuro truly a descendant of the Southern Court? If that was a lie, who were the actual ancestors of the current Imperial Family?
・Was Emperor Meiji assassinated shortly after his enthronement and replaced by Toranosuke Omuro of the Southern Court lineage!?
・Who was Mitsuaki Tanaka, the man who confessed to the “Emperor Meiji replacement” plot?
・What is the truth behind the theory that Emperor Meiji’s father, Emperor Komei, was poisoned?
・Was Tomomi Iwakura involved in the assassination of Emperor Komei and the replacement of Emperor Meiji, in addition to running illegal gambling dens!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 15): Emperor Sutoku lived a life of misery and became one of Japan’s three great vengeful spirits.
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 14): Emperor Sushun was assassinated by Soga no Umako, the very man who had installed him on the throne.
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 13): Was Emperor Yuryaku a tyrant and a wicked ruler who killed countless people!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 12): Did Emperor Shijo die after falling due to a prank he had set up himself!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 11): Was Emperor Buretsu a tyrant akin to the Roman Emperor Nero!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 10): Did Emperor Go-Daigo’s regime collapse because he treated the samurai class with contempt!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 9): Did Emperor Shirakawa become promiscuous after abdicating and becoming a Retired Emperor!?
・Stories of Regrettable Emperors (Part 8): Emperor Shōmu devoted himself to Buddhism, but the construction of the Great Buddha left the national treasury destitute!
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 7): Empress Genmei—after losing her husband and son early, she fought desperately to place her grandson on the throne!
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 6): Emperor Tenji—a ruthless schemer and man of action who was nonetheless terrified of his enemies.
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 5): Which empress drew the bitter resentment of the common people due to her excessive public works projects?
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 4): Which empress nearly had the throne usurped by a monk she had deeply favored?
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 3): Who was Emperor Yōzei—a ruler notorious for his misconduct and even suspected of murder?
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 2): Who was Emperor Reizei—a ruler who abdicated after just two years due to his eccentric behavior and frail health?
・Tales of Unfortunate Emperors (Part 1): Emperor Kazan abdicated after two years due to a conspiracy—but what were the eccentricities and scandalous, lecherous behaviors that marked his reign?
(2) Debates surrounding the Imperial system
・An easy-to-understand explanation of the Northern and Southern Courts period—and a look at the Imperial family’s ancestors
・What was the “Northern and Southern Courts Legitimacy Dispute”? Which Imperial line was ultimately deemed legitimate?
・Tatsukichi Minobe’s “Emperor-as-an-Organ Theory” was the prevailing view in academia and politics—and was even supported by Emperor Showa!
・Reasons why the Imperial Palace and Kyoto were spared from air raids
・Byakuren Yanagihara was a cousin of Emperor Taisho, but she also has a dark history of covertly orchestrating a campaign to reject Michiko Shoda!
・Mythology-based rituals—such as the “Handover of the Three Sacred Treasures” and the “Daijosai” (Great Thanksgiving Festival)—should be conducted solely within the Imperial family
3. Emperors, Retired Emperors, and Cloistered Emperors repeatedly engaged in power struggles, utilizing the samurai class as instruments of power
Emperor Go-Daigo—who sacrificed figures like Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada—is a prime example of this type of ruler, but the Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa is another.
・Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa (Emperor Go-Shirakawa): A mysterious yet fascinating figure—an overview of his life (Part 1)
・Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa (Emperor Go-Shirakawa): A mysterious yet fascinating figure—an overview of his life (Part 2)
Retired Emperor Go-Toba (1180–1239) is another such figure. He was the fourth son of Emperor Takakura and the younger paternal half-brother of Emperor Antoku; he reigned as the 82nd emperor (Emperor Go-Toba) from 1183 to 1198.
He ascended the throne at the age of three in 1183, succeeding Emperor Antoku, but abdicated in favor of Emperor Tsuchimikado in 1198 at the age of eighteen. Thereafter, he exercised power through “cloistered rule” (*insei*) for a lengthy period of twenty-three years, lasting until 1221.
He harbored strong opposition to the Kamakura Shogunate, aiming to restore imperial authority and consistently pursuing a hardline stance.
Retired Emperor Go-Toba is also known for compiling the *Shin Kokin Wakashū* (New Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times). However, in 1221 (the third year of the Jōkyū era), he raised an army to overthrow Hōjō Yoshitoki, the Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate; defeated in the ensuing Jōkyū War, he was exiled to the Oki Islands, where he eventually passed away.
Emperor Showa was a “living god” (*arahitogami*) who reigned in the pre-war era as the “Grand Marshal” (Japan’s supreme authority and highest-ranking official) holding supreme command over the Army and Navy; logically, he bears responsibility for the Pacific War.
However, due to the intentions of the GHQ, Emperor Showa was never charged with any crime nor did he abdicate to take responsibility; instead, he conveniently issued the “Humanity Declaration” after the war and lived out his natural life.
This occurred despite the fact that many young men were conscripted and killed in action under the Emperor’s orders. Furthermore, he rejected Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe’s counsel to end the war early—arguing that an immediate surrender would make it impossible to preserve the *kokutai* (the national polity centered on the Emperor system) and insisting on launching a counterattack first—thereby delaying the unconditional surrender and resulting in massive casualties during the Battle of Okinawa and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
・Did the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki violate international law? What about the responsibility for the war?
・What was the true reason for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
・After the war, Emperor Showa renounced his status as a living god and issued the Humanity Declaration; he faced no accountability for the war and did not abdicate.
I believe the “WGIP” (War Guilt Information Program)—a GHQ initiative designed to brainwash the Japanese people—played a major role in this. Its negative influence on the Japanese mindset persists to this day.
・The GHQ’s “WGIP”—which swapped the narrative of the “atomic bomb” for that of “peace”—was a program to brainwash the Japanese people!
After the war, the GHQ merely allowed the Imperial system to continue in order to prevent Japan from turning communist. I find it baffling that such an anachronistic class system persists in post-war democratic Japan, and that so many citizens do not question it.
The Japanese Communist Party also seems to have shelved its stance on abolishing the Imperial system, which is another curious development.
4. The current turmoil surrounding the Akishino family is unseemly; Prince Hisahito will not be able to win the public’s trust or respect.
While the reputations of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko are already less than stellar, reports detailing Princess Kiko’s heavy-handed tactics—such as regarding Mako’s marriage and Prince Hisahito’s high school enrollment—reveal an intolerable abuse of “Imperial privilege.”
There have also been reports of misconduct and scandalous behavior by other female members of the Imperial family (such as Princess Tsuguko, the eldest daughter of the Takamado family); am I the only one who feels they are hardly worthy of respect?
・Reasons why the Akishino family is disliked: frequent selfish behavior! Calls for an Empress Aiko are also emerging.
・Questions regarding the necessity of the 3.3 billion yen renovation cost for the Akishino residence—clearly contradictory to the call for a modest Daijosai (Great Thanksgiving Festival)!
・Is the plan for Prince Hisahito of the Akishino family to enter the University of Tokyo via recommendation genuine? What about the impartiality of the national university corporation?
・How long will Kei and Mako Komuro continue to receive special treatment funded by public money (taxpayer funds)?
・The wedding press conference held by Mako and Kei Komuro was a farce characterized by one-sided assertions; public affection for the Imperial Family has plummeted.
5. “Abolition of the Imperial System” should be included as a topic for constitutional amendment, and a national referendum should be held.
I have written about this matter in detail in the article below, so please take a moment to read it.
・Restoring members of former imperial branch families to the Imperial Family goes against the times! Is it truly necessary to increase the number of male candidates for the imperial succession?
・It is time to put the question of abolishing the imperial system to a national referendum. There is no need to protect an endangered species.
・What constitutes the “general will of the people”? Considering the imperial system and constitutional amendment.
According to a survey on public attitudes toward the Imperial Family conducted by NHK in September 2019 (based on the premise of maintaining the imperial system), 74% of respondents supported the idea of a female Emperor, suggesting a strong desire among the public for an “Empress Aiko.” Additionally, 71% expressed support for the idea of an Emperor from the female imperial line (*jokei tenno*).
・What is the difference between a female Emperor and an Emperor from the female imperial line? What were the relationships between Empress Suiko, Soga no Umako, and Prince Shotoku?
I believe that, in the future, the forest of the Imperial Palace should be opened to the public as a national park.
・Open the entire Imperial Palace forest to the public as a national park! It should serve as a valuable forest for nature observation in the heart of the city.
I also consider it problematic that approximately 24 billion yen in tax money is spent annually on the Imperial Family’s living and official duty expenses, the salaries of the Imperial Household Agency’s staff of around 1,000 (particularly those in the “Inner Court” involved in religious rituals specific to the Imperial Family), and the maintenance and repair of the Imperial Palace.
6. Arguments for Abolishing the Imperial System
In the pre-war era, advocating for the abolition of the emperor system could constitute crimes such as *lèse-majesté* or violations of the Peace Preservation Law—offenses that could even carry the death penalty—making it impossible to openly express such views.
On October 4, 1945, following the war, GHQ issued a memorandum to the Japanese government titled “Removal of Restrictions on Political, Civil, and Religious Liberties” (known as the “Civil Liberties Directive”). This memorandum included “free discussion regarding the Imperial House, particularly the question of its retention or abolition” as a key tenet; it ordered the repeal of repressive laws like the Peace Preservation Law, the abolition of the Special Higher Police, and the dismissal of Home Minister Iwao Yamazaki, who had explicitly stated that critics of the emperor system were communists subject to punishment.
On October 20, U.S. President Harry S. Truman stated that the question of whether to retain or abolish the emperor system should be decided by the will of the Japanese people. Major Japanese newspapers reported this statement and subsequently began publishing numerous articles and reader submissions debating the future of the emperor system.
Regarding their editorial stances on this issue, the *Asahi Shimbun* reportedly maintained neutrality, the *Yomiuri Shimbun* leaned left, and the *Mainichi Shimbun* leaned right. In 1946, the Japanese Communist Party released a draft constitution for a “People’s Republic of Japan,” advocating for a republican form of government.
・Are Japanese newspapers “impartial and non-partisan”? True impartiality and non-partisanship in newspapers are impossible!
The debate over the emperor system in major Japanese newspapers shifted around January and February 1946 from discussing the merits of the system itself to focusing on the Emperor as an individual; even this discussion began to recede by June of that year.
Meanwhile, in the immediate aftermath of the war, international sentiment toward Japan was harsh. Public opinion in Australia and the United States favored abolishing the emperor system, and figures such as Chiang Kai-shek and Sun Ke (son of Sun Yat-sen) of China, Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union also called for its abolition.
During World War II, the view that the Emperor was a war criminal had gained significant traction within the United States. A Gallup poll conducted in early June 1945 asked, “What do you think should be done with the Emperor of Japan after the war?” The results were: 36% favored killing him or causing him to starve to death; 24% favored punishment or exile; 10% favored putting him on trial and punishing him if found guilty; 7% favored treating him as a war criminal; 4% favored taking no action (holding only high-ranking military leaders responsible); 3% favored using him as a puppet; 4% gave other answers; and 12% expressed no opinion (Source: *Materials on the Occupation of Japan 1: The Emperor System*, edited by Akira Yamagiwa and Masanori Nakamura; Otsuki Shoten). By September 1945, the U.S. Senate had even passed a resolution calling for the Emperor to be put on trial for war crimes.
In contrast, the U.S. government decided to retain the Emperor system under the GHQ, acting on the advice of General Douglas MacArthur and the findings of Brigadier General Bonner Fellers—a Japan specialist—who argued that unifying the Japanese people through the Emperor system and employing indirect rule would best serve U.S. national interests (the enthusiastic public reception of Emperor Showa’s domestic tours also played a role in this decision).
However, deeming it necessary to democratize the imperial system, they demanded that the Japanese government freeze Imperial Household assets and abolish the crime of *lèse-majesté*; furthermore, they called for stripping the Emperor of sovereign power and drastically curtailing his authority under a new constitution.
While the Japanese Communist Party maintains the position that “the current system, in which a single individual or specific family serves as the symbol of national unity, is incompatible with democracy and human equality,” its 2004 platform stated that “the question of its retention or abolition should be resolved by the collective will of the people in the future, once conditions are ripe.” Consequently, the party effectively accepted the imperial system within the framework of the “democratic revolution” (a democratic coalition government) it aims to achieve for the time being.