Political Use of Emperor

Whether or not having been induced be someone, it was his imprudence that should be accused by the people in Japan. A lawmaker in the House of Councillors, Taro Yamamoto, handed a letter to the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, to ask acknowledgement on the situation of sufferers in Fukushima, taking the opportunity of the fall garden party in the Imperial Residence. His hawkish colleagues are so furious that they required his resignation as a lawmaker. So, what exactly is the reason?

The garden party is held in the spring and fall every year, inviting guests from the fields of politics, economy, culture or sports, who presented topics to the public in Japan. Yamamoto was in the garden as a freshman of the House, who were elected this summer. At the moment Akihito reached him to talk with guests, Yamamoto handed his letter to appeal how people in Fukushima suffered from radiation. It is unclear whether Akihito had read that, because it was confiscated by the chief chamberlain.

It was highly unusual for a guest of the garden party to hand a letter to the Emperor. If his behavior were tolerated, every guest may try to hand the Emperor over a lot of things such as flowers, personal treasures, or possibly explosive devices. In terms of security or prudence, Yamamoto’s action was inappropriate.

However, the point conservative lawmakers raised was political use of the Emperor. If it were an action by a lawmaker, the letter may include political message. The Constitution of Japan determines that the Emperor should be politically neutral. So, politicians have been sensitive in political opponents’ taking advantage of the Emperor. Some members of Abe Cabinet harshly accused Yamamoto of his behavior. A Committee of Rules and Administration held a hearing from Yamamoto and consider punishment on him next week.

Anyway, was the Emperor taken advantage of by Yamamoto? Arguments on political use of the Emperor have been mainly about behaviors of administrative leaders. In 2009, Hatoyama administration, by an initiative of Ichiro Ozawa, set a meeting of Xi Jinping, as a likely leader of China, to the Emperor bypassing ordinary process. Taking leadership to establish “Sovereignty Resumption Day,” PM Abe made the Emperor attend to the ceremony of the day on April 28^th this year. Those were the events to which political opponents expressed strong opposition, but no punishment was applied to them

Yamamoto needs to apologize on his behavior at the garden party. However, he is not worth for stepping down, because it is not clear whether he actually used the Emperor for political purpose. Abe administration is not eligible for accusing him, because it had already used the Emperor for its political purpose.