Tokyo: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s successor will be selected during a session of parliament scheduled to convene on October 1. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect its next president on September 27. The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito control both houses of parliament, so the selection of the prime minister is considered a mere formality.
The government is preparing the schedule, which will be finalized by Kishida’s cabinet in late September. According to the report, if the next prime minister decides to dissolve the House of Representatives soon after being elected, the earliest date for a snap election would be October 27 and if the new leader demands time, the second possible date is November 10.
Fumio Kishida is stepping down at the end of his three-year term later this month, as a fund scandal has hurt voters’ confidence in the ruling party.
The rapidly aging population and declining population in Japan have also affected the royal family. In Japan, Prince Hisahito turned 18 recently. After 40 years, such a time has come when someone in the royal family has become an adult. This was an important day for the family.
Hisahito is the nephew of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. His father Crown Prince Akishino was the last person to attain adulthood in 1985. Hisahito is the youngest of the 17-member full adult imperial family, which currently has only four men. His status as the last heir apparent is a big problem for the system, which does not allow empresses.
The Imperial House Law of 1947 allows only a male to sit on the throne. Naruhito is the emperor. His brother Akishino is second in line to get the throne. After this comes Akishino’s son Hisahito.
