Japan Lawmakers Likely to Put Off Decision on Imperial Family Plan

   Tokyo, June 4 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling and opposition parties are highly likely to postpone a decision on ways to secure the number of Imperial Family members as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan remain apart over the matter, senior party members said.
   Leaders of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, who have been mediating informal talks between the two parties, found it difficult to reach a conclusion before the current parliamentary session ends on June 22. Some are calling for an interim report to summarize discussions.
   The ruling and opposition parties are split over an option of adopting back into the Imperial Family male members in the paternal line of 11 former branches of the family.
   They have broadly agreed to allow female Imperial Family members to remain in the family even after marriage.
   Still, the LDP is reluctant to give the status of an Imperial Family member to husbands and children of female Imperial Family members due to concerns that this could possibly pave the way for people from the maternal line to become emperors.

(2025/06/04-13:56)