「女性・女系」論点整理へ　皇位有識者会議が初会合

　政府は２３日、安定的な皇位継承の在り方を検討する有識者会議の初会合を首相官邸で開いた。菅義偉首相が出席し、意見集約ではなく継承策に関する論点整理を要請。慎重に取り扱う姿勢を示した。当面は会議メンバー以外の専門家からのヒアリングを行う予定で、女性・女系天皇や女性宮家創設の是非が焦点となる。
　専門家から聴取するのは１０項目。女性・女系天皇のほか、天皇や皇族の役割・活動、元女性皇族による皇室活動の支援、養子縁組による旧皇族の皇籍復帰などについて意見を聴く。
　首相は冒頭、「国家の基本に関わる極めて重要な事柄だ。十分議論し、さまざまな考え方を分かりやすい形で整理していただきたい」と強調。会議の論議を踏まえて対応していく方針を示した。（2021/03/23-21:18）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga requested a new government panel on Tuesday to sort out issues on the succession of the Imperial throne.
   The panel, tasked with considering ways to ensure stable Imperial succession, held its first meeting on the day, with Atsushi Seike, head of the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, named its chair.
   The panel is slated to hold hearings with related experts on issues including whether Japan should embrace female emperors or emperors from the maternal bloodline of the Imperial Family and whether it should allow female Imperial Family members to establish family branches after marriage.
   The panel consists of three male members including Tetsuro Tomita, chairman of East Japan Railway Co. , and three women including Chiba University of Commerce Prof. Midori Miyazaki.
   Imperial succession is a "very important matter linked to the country's foundations," Suga said at the day's panel meeting. "We would like (the panel) to have a full discussion and sort out various ideas in a way that is easy to understand."