Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Monday that although he thinks a female member of the Imperial family should be allowed to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne, there should be no rush to amend the male-only succession law, which dates back to the early postwar period.
"I believe this is an issue whose conclusion should be reached after we hold thorough debate and listen to the views of various people," Fukuda told a news conference. "I don't think we need to rush to a hasty conclusion."
Asked if he thinks Japan should allow an empress to reign, Fukuda, who is also in charge of gender equality issues in the Cabinet, said, "From my point of view, of course, yes."