Those Who Possess Nationality
I have nationality like Jesus Christ in ancient Israel under occupation by the Roman Empire.
However, Jesus Christ said to abandon everything to follow Him.
So, I have to abandon my nationality to follow Him.
Yet, there is a place where I am legally domiciled and registered, because every Japanese is requested so as the legal proof of his or her nationality.
It is said that, in Japan, this legal system started in the seventh century.
SECTION I: Class Mystery of Japan
Some people in the world, as they have come to know Japan more, think that something is strange.
There is no noble class in Japan, while Japan has the Emperor, the Empress, their royal children and grandchildren in addition to Imperial families of the Emperor's brother's, the Emperor's uncle's, and the Emperor's cousins'.
Except the Emperor, the Empress, the Prince Imperial, the Crown Princess, and the Princess, there are six imperial families. But there are no other privileged or titled noble-class families in Japan.
It is because after WWII the U.S. requested Japan to abolish the noble class and Imperial families except those directly associated with the Showa Emperor.
Accordingly, 11 imperial families (including 51 persons) were abolished in 1947. The Constitution enacted in 1947 does not stipulate anything about the noble class and imperial families. Only the Emperor is referred to in the Constitution of Japan.
That is why there are no dukes, counts, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, and any body with a title of peerage in Japan, except those imperial family members who have survived the 1947 forced abolition of the 11 imperial families.
(Before the end of WWII, the noble class in the Empire of Japan mostly consisted of descendants of former high-ranking samurais and traditional noble-class members who lived in Kyoto till the Meiji Restoration of the Imperial Authority in 1867.)
Yet, a law stipulates that only a male member of the Imperial Families is authorized to be one of possible heirs to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The Prince Imperial and the Crown Princess, as husband and wife, have only the Princess.
(Click to enlarge.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan
SECTION II: Future Emperors
It is expected that the Imperial crown will be taken in future by the Imperial Prince, the younger brother of the Imperial Prince, and then the prince of the younger brother of the Imperial Prince, as time goes by while other male members of the imperial families decease.
But, when the prince of the younger brother of the Imperial Prince wins the Imperial crown, there will be no other male members unless he marries to have his own prince(s).
If he should have only princesses, namely girls, as his children, nobody would be entitled to succeed to the Imperial Throne in half a century. The Emperor of Japan will be vacant decades later and forever, though it has been secured for 2600 years in terms of the myth of Japan and for 1700 years in terms of historical evidence supported by ancient Chinese history books.
The Japanese Constitution does not specify anything about who must succeed to the Imperial Throne. It is a matter of law. The law governing imperial succession must be changed. Some people claim so. They even want the Princess of the Imperial Prince to become Emperor of Japan after her father, namely the incumbent Imperial Prince. Even her child, regardless of a boy or a girl, must be allowed to win the future Imperial crown, some claim so.
This is called "the female Emperor issue" and "the female-line Emperor issue."
SECTION III: 11 Imperial Families Abolished by American Occupation
As the first step, it is reasonable to restore the 11 imperial families abolished by the U.S. while General Douglas MacArthur occupied Japan in 1947.
The 11 Imperial Families are as follows:
Nashimoto
Kuni
Yamashina (extinct)
Kacho (extinct)
Kitashirakawa
Higashifushimi or Komatsu (extinct)
Kaya
Asaka
Higashikuni
Takeda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cke
But the point at issue is that an emperor's father must be an emperor or a son of an emperor, or otherwise a son of a son of an emperor. An emperor can be a son of the father whose blood line can be traced back to an emperor through only the male line.
In this context there are some male members in the above 11 families that can claim their right to win the Imperial crown, since their male blood line can be directly traced back to a certain emperor who reigned 700 years ago. It is however not strange since the 11 families had lived as imperial families till 1947 for 700 years or so.
(http://episode.kingendaikeizu.net/24.htm )
But, of course, there are many critics who reject this idea. They assert that it is absurd to have a new emperor whose direct link to a preceding emperor must be traced back for 700 years.
SECTION IV: Imperial Shintoism and Democratic Japan
There are some points to be reviewed:
1. It is a matter of a family who becomes the head of the family.
2. It is a matter of a religious clan who becomes the head of the religious clan.
3. The concept of human rights must apply to any Japanese living under the Japanese Constitution, including Imperial Families.
4. The Imperial House once partially adopted Buddhism. There still exist many notable Buddhism temples in Nara and Kyoto Prefectures once emperors or imperial families established hundreds years ago or more than 1300 years ago. Today, the Imperial Families are also under the Japanese Constitution formulated based on American Christian democracy after WWII.
5. Even the Vatican's authority consists in St. Peter who lived 2000 years ago. For religion, 2000 years or 700 years does not matter to authorize its power so long as the religion in question has been observed honestly for 2000 years or 700 years.
6. Dignity of Japan and the Japanese people must not be damaged in choosing a new emperor. A new emperor of Japan must be chosen in a manner that the world, including the Vatican, the U.S., China, and Korea, would respect Japan and the Japanese people all the more.
7. Japanese Shinto at large, the Imperial Shintoism, Japanese Buddhism, and any other religions in Japan must be studied in comparison with Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism as well as other schools of Buddhism in the world, Confucianism, Taoism, etc. This must be the basics in dealing with Imperial succession, since it is not a simple political issue but also a high-level of religious issue.
Now, if you know any Japanese elite, ask him or her about his or her opinion about Imperial succession.
If he or she is reluctant to talk or think about it, say to him or her that it is not only a Japanese issue but an issue of the world history, since only Japan has the emperor now who can claim that he is directly associated with a god or gods unlike kings or queens somewhere on this earth.
Indeed, it is a long time ago that all the emperors had gone in classical Chinese empires and the Roman Empires, though the Samurai Empire of Japan disappeared in May 1947 when the Constitution of Japan was enacted.
APPENDIX.
According to the Japanese myth, the first Emperor Jinmu reigned between 660 BC and 585 BC.
The 16th Emperor Nintoku reigned 313–399, leaving a great tomb as large as that of the First Emperor of China or the Egyptian pyramid of Khufu.
(http://www.city.sakai.lg.jp/hakubutu/ninhya.html )
The 93rd Emperor Go-Fushimi (1298-1301) has direct male-line descendants among the above 11 imperial families abolished in 1947.
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List of Emperors of Japan
The following is a traditional list of emperors of Japan,
Legendary emperors
1 Jimmu
2 Suizei
3 Annei
4 Itoku
5 Kosho
6 Koan
7 Korei
8 Kogen
9 Kaika
10 Sujin
11 Suinin
12 Keiko
13 Seimu
14 Chuai
15 Ojin
Early 5th century
16 Nintoku
17 Richu
18 Hanzei
Middle of the 5th century
19 Ingyo
20 Anko
Late 5th century
21 Yuryaku
22 Seinei
23 Kenzo
24 Ninken
25 Buretsu
Early 6th century
26 Keitai
27 Ankan
28 Senka
Clearly dated emperors and empresses
29 Kimmei (509-571, r. 539-571)
30 Bidatsu (538-585, r. 572-585)
31 Yomei (?-587, r. 585-587)
32 Sushun (?-592, r. 587-592)
33 Suiko (554-628, r. 593-628) *
34 Jomei (593-641, r. 629-641)
35 Kogyoku (594-661, r. 642-645) *
36 Kotoku (597-654, r. 645-654)
37 Saimei (594-661, r. 655-661) *
38 Tenji (626-672, r. 661-672)
39 Kobun (648-672, r. 672)
40 Temmu (?-686, r. 672-686)
41 Jito (645-703, r. 686-697) *
42 Mommu (683-707, r. 697-707)
43 Gemmei (661-722, r. 707-715) *
44 Gensho (680-748, r. 715-724) *
45 Shomu (701-756, r. 724-749)
46 Koken (718-770, r. 749-758) *
47 Junnin (733-765, r. 758-764)
48 Shotoku (718-770, r. 764-770) *
49 Konin (709-782, r. 770-781)
50 Kammu (737-806, r. 781-806)
51 Heizei (774-824, r. 806-809)
52 Saga (786-842, r. 809-823)
53 Junna (786-840, r. 823-833)
54 Nimmyo (810-850, r. 833-850)
55 Montoku (827-858, r. 850-858)
56 Seiwa (850-881, r. 858-876)
57 Yozei (869-949, r. 876-884)
58 Koko (830-887, r. 884-887)
59 Uda (867-931, r. 887-897)
60 Daigo (885-930, r. 897-930)
61 Suzaku (923-952, r. 930-946)
62 Murakami (926-967, r. 946-967)
63 Reizei (950-1011, r. 967-969)
64 En'yu (959-991, r. 969-984)
65 Kazan (968-1008, r. 984-986)
66 Ichijo (980-1011, r. 986-1011)
67 Sanjo (976-1017, r. 1011-1016)
68 Go-Ichijo (1008-1036, r. 1016-1036)
69 Go-Suzaku (1009-1045, r. 1036-1045)
70 Go-Reizei (1025-1068, r. 1045-1068)
71 Go-Sanjo (1034-1073, r. 1068-1073)
72 Shirakawa (1053-1129, r. 1073-1087 and cloistered rule 1086-1129)
73 Horikawa (1079-1107, r. 1087-1107)
74 Toba (1103-1156, r. 1107-1123 and cloistered rule 1129-1156)
75 Sutoku (1119-1164, r. 1123-1142)
76 Konoe (1139-1155, r. 1142-1155)
77 Go-Shirakawa (1127-1192, r. 1155-1158 and cloistered rule 1158-1192)
78 Nijo (1143-1165, r. 1158-1165)
79 Rokujo (1164-1176, r. 1165-1168)
80 Takakura (1161-1181, r. 1168-1180)
81 Antoku (1178-1185, r. 1180-1185)
82 Go-Toba (1180-1239, r. 1183-1198)
83 Tsuchimikado (1195-1231, r. 1198-1210)
84 Juntoku (1197-1242, r. 1210-1221)
85 Chukyo (1218-1234, r. 1221)
86 Go-Horikawa (1212-1234, r. 1221-1232)
87 Shijo (1231-1242, r. 1232-1242)
88 Go-Saga (1220-1272, r. 1242-1246)
89 Go-Fukakusa (1243-1304, r. 1246-1260)
90 Kameyama (1249-1305, r. 1260-1274)
91 Go-Uda (1267-1324, r. 1274-1287)
92 Fushimi (1265-1317, r. 1287-1298)
93 Go-Fushimi (1288-1336, r. 1298-1301)
94 Go-Nijo (1285-1308, r. 1301-1308)
95 Hanazono (1297-1348, r. 1308-1318)
96 Go-Daigo (1288-1339, r. 1318-1339)
97 Go-Murakami (1328-1368, r. 1339-1368)
98 Chokei (1343-1394, r. 1368-1383)
99 Go-Kameyama (?-1424, r. 1383-1392)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 1: Kogon (1313-1364, r. 1331-1333)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 2: Komyo (1322-1380, r. 1336-1348)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 3: Suko (1334-1398, r. 1348-1351)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 4: Go-Kogon (1338-1374, r. 1351-1371)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 5: Go-En'yu (1359-1393, r. 1371-1382)
100 Go-Komatsu (1377-1433, r. 1382-1412)
101 Shoko (1401-1428, r. 1412-1428)
102 Go-Hanazono (1419-1471, r. 1428-1464)
103 Go-Tsuchimikado (1442-1500, r. 1464-1500)
104 Go-Kashiwabara (1464-1526, r. 1500-1526)
105 Go-Nara (1497-1557, r. 1526-1557)
106 Ogimachi (1517-1593, r. 1557-1586)
107 Go-Yozei (1572-1617, r. 1586-1611)
108 Go-Mizunoo (1596-1680, r. 1611-1629)
109 Meisho (1624-1696, r. 1629-1643) *
110 Go-Komyo (1633-1654, r. 1643-1654)
111 Go-Sai (1637-1685, r. 1655-1663)
112 Reigen (1654-1732, r. 1663-1687)
113 Higashiyama (1675-1709, r. 1687-1709)
114 Nakamikado (1702-1737, r. 1709-1735)
115 Sakuramachi (1720-1750, r. 1735-1747)
116 Momozono (1741-1762, r. 1747-1762)
117 Go-Sakuramachi (1740-1813, r. 1762-1771) *
118 Go-Momozono (1758-1779, r. 1771-1779)
119 Kokaku (1771-1840, r. 1780-1817)
120 Ninko (1800-1846, r. 1817-1846)
121 Komei (1831-1867, r. 1846-1867)
122 Mutsuhito (Meiji emperor) (1852-1912, r. 1867-1912)
123 Yoshihito (Taisho emperor) (1879-1926, r. 1912-1926)
124 Hirohito (Showa emperor) (1901-1989, r. 1926-1989)
125 Akihito (1933- , r. 1989-present)
Footnotes:
The previous three Emperors are officially called by their era name in Japan. Akihito is currently referred to as Tenno Heika, in Japanese as he is the reigning emperor, even though his era is called Heisei. In English, Akihito is referred to by name.
In English, Mutsuhito and Yoshihito are referred to as the Meiji and Taisho emperors, respectively. Hirohito, on the other hand, is referred to by name by most English speakers.
* = empresses
http://www.encyclopedia4u.com/l/list-of-emperors-of-japan.html
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See also the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_monarchs
Also note that if a daughter of an emperor, namely her father, won the Imperial crown, she would be also called "Ten-noh" which is translated as "emperor" in English.
(But, any of her sons cannot be emperor unless her husband, namely their father, is a direct descendant of an emperor through a male-blood line.)
An empress is mostly translated as "Ko-gou" in Japanese, meaning the wife of an emperor.
Therefore, if a daughter of an emperor won the Imperial crown, she is a female emperor but not an empress in the Japanese sense, since she is also the head of the Imperial Shintoism.
Yet, in English, the female head of an empire is called empress.
Indeed, it is impossible for a woman to become emperor in the Roman Empire and pope in the Vatican.
("Then-noh" in Japanese actually means the head of the Imperial House, who can be a woman. Ten-noh does not 100% correspond to the English word emperor. There are no concepts of masculine nouns and feminine nouns in the Japanese language.
In the Chinese history, one woman once became the head of a Chinese empire. However, most of Chinese historians do not call her an emperor but an empress, since she was also the wife of an emperor.
A Chinese emperor is called "Kou-tei" in Japanese as with emperors in other countries, though there are no emperors nowadays except in Japan. Conversely, no Japanese call any past foreign emperor "Ten-noh."
To show respect for the Emperor in person, you had better use the expression "Ten-noh Heika" [His Majesty the Emperor] or simply "Heika.")
*** *** *** ***
Japanese shinto shrines are also associated with the Imperial House. Every shinto shrine has its own legendary. For example, a shrine is said to have been established in the era of the 5th Emperor Kosho. Other shrine claims that it was established by an ancestor of the First Emperor Jinmu, namely by a god.
The Grand Shrine of Ise, where the prime minister of Japan goes and worships in early January every year, is said to have been founded by a princess of the 10th Emperor Suijin.
Every shinto shrine is ranked in accordance with their association with the Imperial House. In 927, a list of shinto shrines in Japan was compiled, including 2,861 shrines. Even in this list, the Grand Shrine of Ise was classified into its own as the supreme shrine due to its association with the Imperial House.
However, there are some shrines whose history is respectfully longer than the Grand Shrine of Ise, though the Grand Shrine of Ise honors Amaterasu-omikami, a sun goddess who is the main ancestor among others of the First Emperor Jinmu, according to the Japanese myth.
So, for you to be an emperor, you need a religion and a myth of your own family's that can be traced back for 2000 years or so.
(Incidentally no past Chinese imperial houses had history of their own that could match the Japanese Imperial House. They were all short-lived. Even different races and tribes established an imperial house in China.)
You had better check the Vatican.
(http://www.mu-tech.co.jp/FirstSongWeb/kimigayo_xf_jazz_guitar.mid
Source:http://www.mu-tech.co.jp/FirstSongWeb/arrange_mobile.asp
Even in North Korea, it can be heard, as there are some Japanese.)
Joh 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.