Crown Prince Akishino expressed full agreement with Emperor Naruhito's call for public understanding of Japan's revised Imperial Household Law, marking the first public comments by a royal family member since the legislation passed parliament in July.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday before a diplomatic visit to Paraguay, the crown prince said he shared the emperor's hope that the changes would gain the public's acceptance. The revisions permit female royals to retain their imperial status after marriage and allow male descendants of former cadet branches to be adopted into the imperial family, addressing concerns over shrinking royal ranks.
The couple also expressed condolences for victims of the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake before outlining their itinerary. They are scheduled to visit Paraguay from August 18 to 26 to mark the 90th anniversary of Japanese migration to the South American nation, with meetings including the Paraguayan president.