Imperial Household Council

This article is about the body of Japan established in 1947. For the administration of the Japanese imperial household, see Imperial Household Agency. For the administration of the Qing China imperial household, see Imperial Household Department. For other uses, see Imperial Household Administration.

The Imperial Household Council (皇室会議 Kōshitsu Kaigi) 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:

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.

Date of approvalMarriage between
27 November 1958Prince Akihito and Michiko Shōda
28 February 1964Prince Masahito and Hanako Tsugaru
18 April 1980Prince Tomohito and Nobuko Asō
1 August 1984Prince Norihito and Hisako Tottori
12 September 1989Prince Fumihito and Kiko Kawashima
19 January 1993Prince Naruhito and Masako Owada

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. Seven 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:

Article XXX of the Imperial Household Law provides that other ten members shall be appointed as reserve members of the Council:

Incumbent members of the Council in order of precedence

The reserve members are as follows:

Kōzoku Giin (Imperial Representative)

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.[1]

Term of office starts onMembersReserve members
16 September 1947Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuSetsuko, Princess ChichibuTakahito, Prince MikasaKikuko, Princess Takamatsu
16 September 1951Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAtsuko, Princess Yori
(until 10 October 1952)
(12 October 1952)Kikuko, Princess Takamatsu
16 September 1955Setsuko, Princess ChichibuNobuhito, Prince TakamatsuKikuko, Princess TakamatsuTakahito, Prince Mikasa
16 September 1959Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuSetsuko, Princess ChichibuTakahito, Prince MikasaKikuko, Princess Takamatsu
16 September 1963Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaYuriko, Princess MikasaAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1967Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1971Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1975Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1979Nobuhito, Prince TakamatsuTakahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1983Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu
(died on 3 February 1987)		Takahito, Prince MikasaSetsuko, Princess ChichibuAkihito, Crown Prince
16 September 1987Takahito, Prince MikasaAkihito, Crown Prince
(enthroned on 7 January 1989)		Masahito, Prince HitachiSetsuko, Princess Chichibu
(5 September 1989)Masahito, Prince Hitachi(vacant)
16 September 1991Takahito, Prince MikasaYuriko, Princess MikasaMasahito, Prince HitachiNaruhito, Crown Prince
16 September 1995Takahito, Prince MikasaYuriko, Princess MikasaMasahito, Prince HitachiNaruhito, Crown Prince
16 September 1999Takahito, Prince MikasaYuriko, Princess MikasaNaruhito, Crown PrinceMasahito, Prince Hitachi
16 September 2003Takahito, Prince MikasaYuriko, Princess MikasaMasahito, Prince HitachiHanako, Princess Hitachi
16 September 2007Masahito, Prince HitachiHanako, Princess HitachiYuriko, Princess MikasaFumihito, Prince Akishino
16 September 2011Masahito, Prince HitachiHanako, Princess HitachiYuriko, Princess MikasaFumihito, Prince Akishino
16 September 2015Fumihito, Prince AkishinoHanako, Princess HitachiMasahito, Prince HitachiKiko, Princess Akishino

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. Crown 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.[2]

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 was in September 2011.[3]

On 7 September 2011, the regular election was held by the 18 adult members of the imperial family. This time the elections were not held at the Imperial Palace, but in an Agency conference room to reduce energy consumption.[4] Both the members and reserve members were re-elected.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 皇室会議議員及び予備議員互選規則
  2. ↑ Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition, 4 September 2003
  3. ↑ Mainichi Shimbun Morning Edition, 6 September 2007
  4. ↑ Imperial Household Council election
  5. ↑ Imperial Diary

External links

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