皇位継承、２案軸に議論　「婚姻後も皇族」「養子縁組可能」―有識者会議

　政府は３０日、安定的な皇位継承の在り方を検討する第８回有識者会議（座長・清家篤日本私立学校振興・共済事業団理事長）を首相官邸で開いた。皇族の数を確保するため、(1)女性皇族が婚姻後も皇族の身分を保持する(2)皇族の養子縁組を可能にし、男系男子が皇族となれる―の２案を中心に、今後議論を進めていく方針を確認した。
　会合後、清家氏は「（秋篠宮さまの長男）悠仁さまの時代にも皇族を一定数確保する必要があり、喫緊の課題だ。引き続き議論を進めていきたい」と述べた。（2021/06/30-22:00）

A Japanese government panel tasked with considering ways to ensure stable Imperial succession has agreed that it will mainly discuss two proposals for securing enough number of Imperial Family members.
   At the eighth meeting of the panel on Wednesday, participants agreed that they will mainly discuss a plan to allow female members to retain their Imperial Family status after getting married, and a plan to use the adoption system to restore the Imperial Family status of male descendants in the family's paternal line who have left the family.
   The Imperial House Law stipulates that only male offspring in the paternal bloodline of the Imperial lineage can assume the Chrysanthemum throne.
   The panel is headed by Atsushi Seike, president of Promotion and Mutual Aid Corp. for Private Schools of Japan.
   Speaking after the meeting, Seike pointed to the need to urgently address the issue as the country will need to secure a certain number of Imperial Family members when Prince Hisahito, the 14-year-old son of Crown Prince Akishino who is second in line to the throne, becomes Emperor.