Due to differing views even within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the government has decided to postpone holding full-fledged talks on how to achieve a stable imperial succession until next spring.

Sources close to the matter recently said that as Crown Prince Akishino is scheduled to announce himself to be first in line to the throne during a ceremony due to be held on April 19, the government plans to start the debate after the event in order to avoid worsening the situation among LDP lawmakers.

In recent years the number of imperial family members has been shrinking.