In an essay that is such to raise eyebrow Imperial Prince Tomohito suggested that Japan bring back concubines as a way of assuring a male heir the the throne

Tokyo — Japan should exhaust all other options before allowing a woman to ascend to its imperial throne, including adoptions and bringing back concubines, Emperor Akihito's cousin said in a newsletter obtained Thursday.

From the Globe and Mail via Associated Press

Golly! Methinks this is going to be wonderful source of embarrassment over the next few weeks.

He likes a laugh

Mulboyne wrote:He likes a laugh

Speaking of laughs (although if seen by the wrong people, maybe not so funny), do I note that the deceased in the not too distant past Takamadonomiyasama looking an awful lot like Magi Shiro the magician at not at all like His Imperial Highness?

gboothe wrote:...the deceased in the not to distance past Takamadonomiyasama...

Blame Canada. He was playing squash with the ambassador at the embassy in Akasaka when his heart gave out.

Which reminds me, it is widely believed that a previous British ambassador was bundled out of Japan rather hastily because his wife wasn't keen on his practical support for the idea of concubines.

Mulboyne wrote:-snip-
Which reminds me, it is widely believed that a previous British ambassador was bundled out of Japan rather hastily because his wife wasn't keen on his practical support for the idea of concubines.

I hadn't heard that and at least in the last 20 years or so, I don't know of anyone who left out of rotation, or let's say unusually fast. But, I try not to delve into the area of nasty comments about concubines, glass houses and rocks, etc.

The story was picked up by all the dailys today but some seemed to have edited out the part about concubines so I guess the Imperial Household Agency had a busy night of damage control last night.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20051104TDY01001.htm

The Japan Times did report the story in full however.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051104a1.htm

dimwit wrote:In an essay that is such to raise eyebrow Imperial Prince Tomohito suggested that Japan bring back concubines as a way of assuring a male heir the the throne.

Mulboyne wrote:

gboothe wrote:...the deceased in the not to distance past Takamadonomiyasama...

Blame Canada. He was playing squash with the ambassador at the embassy in Akasaka when his heart gave out.

Put the two together...

Kyodo via Japan Today: Prince Tomohito hospitalized for suspected heart ailment
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, was hospitalized Monday for suspected pericarditis, a heart ailment, at Keio University Hospital, the Imperial Household Agency said. The 59-year-old prince had complained of slight chest pain the same day, according to the agency. He is expected to stay for about three days in the hospital in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, it said.