A Girl on the Throne

The below article is written by Agnes Chan who is a singer, an UNICEF ambassador, a writer and a professor. This essay named "The Right Track" is used as English course-4 textbook at my Univ. I will write down all of the article little by little to gain my comprehension, and remark my impressions of each unit last.

Unit2 : A Girl on the Throne? Why Not?

When Crown Princess Masako gave birth to a baby girl, Princess Aiko, Japan celebrated the news, with everyone joining in to welcome the new arrival.

However, because the baby was not a boy, unspoken disappointment was in the air. A boy would have been second in line to the Imperial throne. But Aiko is a girl, and she is not eligible to ascend to the Imperial throne, not unless Japan revises the Imperial House Law, which states that only a male offspring can sit on the Imperial throne.

If the law remains unchanged, Masako might be under pressure to give birth to more babies until she has a son.

Some lawmakers have said they are not opposed to the possibility of having an empress in the future. But they also say more time is needed to discuss the specific issues involved.

Although I had seen the Prince and Princess several times at previous functions, I recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with them face to face. Both showed a keen interest in the affairs of the world's children. Crown Princess Masako, who was quite knowledgeable about this subject, showed genuine concern for the plight of girls in the world today. She was particularly upset to hear that two thirds of children not getting a primary education were girls.
Small gestures indicated to me that the couple are loving and kind each other and to those around them. I know they will be wonderful parents. I also believe they will be wonderful advocates of children's right and will raise Princess Aiko to become a global-minded person who can understand the pain and suffering of people everywhere.

Personally, I think it is significant that a princess was born, the public would have gone wild with celebrations. But because the Imperial baby is a girl, people are doing some hard thinking. Some must have felt disappointed and at the same time felt guilty about feeling disappointed. The issue of gender equality is uppermost in most people's minds.If the government truly wants citizens to be aware that there should be equal opportunities for both men and women, why shouldn't the Imperial baby be able to ascend the throne even if she is a girl?
Because of the nation's declining birth rate, the Japanese government has been sponsoring events and projects aimed at preaching gender tolerance. But if the Imperial system cannot shed this prejudice, how can the common people be expected to do so?

The 21st century's prosperity depends on the independence of women. The world's population will stabilize only when women are allowed to make decisions about childbirth. Poverty cannot be eliminated if women do not get paid or get credit for what they do. The people of the world will remain divided and ignorant if we do not educate our girls. Gaining equal rights is no longer a struggle just for women, but a necessity for the future of the world. Realizing the importance of this issue will be the key to the success of any country.

Japan was given a wake-up call when the little princess entered the world. Whether we in Japan turn over and go back to sleep while the world gets up and moves forward; or whether we open our eyes and take the lead in setting up a more equal society is up to all of us.

# My impression #

I heard this kind of stupid issue for the first time. Is this a true story? Why does Agnes know that Japanese people were disappointed at the news which Prencess Masako give birth to a baby girl. She said that "unspoken disappointment" was in the air. If so, how could she know Japanese people's minds without listening.

Those who have an objection is minority. Almost all the people celebrated the birth of Aiko sincerely. Also Koizumi party which is a regime in those days tried to change the Imperial House Law. However Prince Akishino, who is the second son of the Emperor, had a boy after Aiko was born, so the decision was postponed. The fact of which there are tenth Emperor of eight female is recorded in Japanese history. I think Agnes shouldn't have published this personal opinion as Japanese opinion. I am sure person who persist in only descendants in the male line are person involved such as noble of men. Most of the Japanese don't care at all whether the male line or female line ascend the throne.

And I think young generation don't need Emperor's family to our symbol. They are just part of citizen like us. So the points which Agnes suggested is not reasonable. We would not think over about women's rights through the imperial succession. Now, more women than men are energetic in Japan. Women will get their own rights by herself.