Japan plans to study further into imperial succession system

TOKYO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government said Monday that it plans to study ways to achieve a stable Imperial succession, including discussions on female members in the Imperial family.

At a parliamentary committee session, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government will study the issue of whether to keep the female members, who marry commoners, in the Imperial family.

He said the process will start after Crown Prince Naruhito succeeds Emperor Akihito on May 1.

"Because this is an extremely important issue related to the foundation of the nation, we have to give careful consideration to the matter," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the session, referring to the issue of whether to allow female monarchs.

According to the Imperial House Law, only male members can ascend the throne and female members who marry outside the Imperial family are required to abandon their royal status.

Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has remained cautious about whether to allow female monarchs, although there have been discussions in the past about the issue.

Currently, there are 18 members in the Japanese Imperial family, 13 of who are women.

Emperor Akihito, 85, was enthroned on Jan. 7, 1989, starting the Era of Heisei. In a rare nationally-televised address in August 2016, he expressed his desire to relinquish his duties as emperor owing to concerns about his age, health and ability to carry out his formal duties.