Using Princess for Politics

Political use of Imperial Family, which the Constitution prohibits, must be doubted on the attendance of Princess Hisako of Takamado to the general meeting of International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday. In the meeting, she is going to make a speech to literally appeal Tokyo’s candidacy to the host city of Olympic games in 2020. Against reluctant Imperial Household Agency, Prime Minister’s Residence pushed to let her work for this political agenda. This makes another episode of the administration to flagrantly ignore the Constitution.

Hisako had been expected only to have a greeting to board members of the committee at the reception before the general meeting. But, after the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Hakubun Shimomura, asked the Agency to let her attend the general meeting and Prime Minister’s Office did the same request, the Imperial Household Agency unwillingly accepted it.

The Agency has strictly avoided Royal Family’s participation in the race of candidates for decades, because supporting the activity of Olympic invitation directly leads to a political achievement. It has also been refraining from competition with other nations. The Constitution of Japan determines that the Emperor does not possess any ability on national politics. Accordingly, the Royal Families are also supposed to be unable to participate in politics. Abe administration actually challenged this provision and precedents.

The Grand Steward of the Agency, Noriyuki Kazaoka, spoke for the Emperor of his anxiety. “Although it was possible to be recognized as joining in the campaign, we made a tough choice. I think the Emperor and Empress are worrying about it,” Kazaoka said in a press conference. While the Agency explains that Princess Hisako is just going to appreciate the helping hands of nations for recovery effort from the great disaster in her speech, nobody regard her as a innocent attendee on the meeting where the host city will be determined.

Bringing Olympic games is an opportunity for Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to facilitate a mood of integrated nation, which will work for his political achievement. However, it is unfair for him to shift people’s attention from disaster recovery to an international sports event. Actually, the governmental intervention in management of contaminated water produced by the broken nuclear power plant with a great amount of tax money is dubbed as in order to remove apprehension of IOC officials about Tokyo Olympic. If Japan failed in the campaign, Abe must assume his responsibility on this political adventure.