Imperial Household Council

is a ten-member body to approve the statutory matters on the Imperial House of Japan. The Council was established in 1947, when the current Imperial Household Law took effect.

Functions

The Imperial Household Law provides that the Council shall be summoned by the Prime Minister to approve of:

* Marriage of any male member of the Imperial Family (Article X)
* Forfeiture of the Imperial status of a member of the Imperial Family (Articles XI, XIII and XIV)
* Changing of the order of succession of an heir who suffers from incurable disease (Article III)
* Regency (Articles XVI, XVIII and XX)

The Imperial Household Council has been convoked seven times hitherto. At each time, the Council meeting was headed by the Prime Minister and gave a unanimous consent and approval to the agenda.

Forfeiture of the Imperial status

Fifty-one members lost their Imperial status in 1947 with an approval of the Council.

Approval of marriage

The Council has discussed and approved of six marriages since its establishment.

No princess of the blood needs a marriage approval unless she marries a member of the Imperial House, because she will automatically become a commoner upon marriage and her husband will never be a member of the Imperial House under the rule of patrilineal succession. Six princesses have married without the Council's approval since it was established.

Members of the Imperial Household Council

Article XXVIII of the Imperial Household Law provides that the Imperial Household Council shall consist of:
* Prime Minister
* Two members of the Imperial Family
* The Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives
* The President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors
* Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency
* Chief Justice and a justice of the Supreme Court

Article XXX of the Imperial Household Law provides that other ten members shall be appointed as reserve members of the Council.
* Minister of State - in most cases, Chief Cabinet Secretary
* Two members of the Imperial Family
* Two members of the House of Representatives
* Two members of the House of Councillors
* An official of the Imperial Household Agency - in most cases, Vice-Grand Steward
* Two justices of the Supreme Court

Incumbent members of the Council in order of precedence

* Masahito, Prince Hitachi
* Hanako, Princess Hitachi
* Yohei Kono, Speaker of the House of Representatives
* Takahiro Yokomichi, Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives
* Satsuki Eda, President of the House of Councillors
* Akiko Santo, Vice-President of the House of Councillors
* Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister
* Shingo Haketa, Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency
* Niro Shimada, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
* Tokiyasu Fujita, justice of the Supreme Court

The reserve members are as follows:
* Yuriko, Princess Mikasa
* Fumihito, Prince Akishino
* Yoshiro Mori, member of the House of Representatives
* Kozo Watanabe, member of the House of Representatives
* Kenji Hirata, member of the House of Councillors
* Hidehisa Otsuji, member of the House of Councillors
* Nobutaka Machimura, Chief Cabinet Secretary
* Noriyuki Kazaoka, Vice-Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency
* Tatsuo Kainaka, justice of the Supreme Court
* Tokuji Izumi, justice of the Supreme Court

Kōzoku Giin (Imperial Representative)

nihongo|Kōzoku Giin|皇族議員, literally "Imperial Representative", refers to the Imperial Family members elected as members of the Imperial Household Council by mutual election among the adult members of the Imperial Family excluding the Emperor. They vote to elect two reserve members from the Imperial Family in the same way. [ [http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S22/S22SE164.html 皇室会議議員及び予備議員互選規則] ]

Princess Yori ceased to be a reserve member of the Council because she got married and became a commoner on 10 October 1952. Princess Takamatsu became a reserve member in replacement for her.

Recent elections

On 3 September 2003, Prince Mikasa was reelected to his fifteenth consecutive term of office since the Council's establishment. Prince Naruhito was voted out. It was for the first time since 1963 that the crown prince was not elected as a member or reserve member of the Council. ["Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition", 4 September 2003]

The latest election was carried out on 5 September 2007. Empress Michiko, six princes and nine princesses voted to elect Prince and Princess Hitachi as members of the Council, and Princess Mikasa and Prince Akishino as reserve members. Prince Mikasa was reported to have excused himself for his old age in advance. Crown Prince Naruhito was not elected again while his brother, Prince Akishino was voted in for the first time. The next election will be held in September 2011. ["Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition", 6 September 2007]

References

* [http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/natnews/koushitsu/88888/ 【明解要解】「皇室会議」とは？新議員に常陸宮ご夫妻] , Sankei Shimbun
* "Zusetsu - Koshitsu no Subete", Gakken, 2005, ISBN 4056041652

See also

* Government of Japan

External links

* [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/01/d01-08.html 皇室会議] - Imperial Household Council (Japanese)