Manga artist sues government over revised Imperial House Law

Japanese manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi sued the government Monday, saying that the revised Imperial House Law, which allows male paternal-line descendants of former imperial family branches to be adopted into the imperial family, violates the Constitution.

In the lawsuit, filed with the Tokyo District Court, Kobayashi seeks to confirm that the revised law breaches the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on family origin, and is therefore invalid. He also demanded damages of ¥1 million ($6,341).

The revision, drafted to address the decreasing number of imperial family members, was enacted in July and enforced Saturday. It has a new stipulation that male descendants of the former 11 branches who are 15 or older and have no spouse or children are eligible for the adoption. The branches left the imperial family in 1947.

Kobayashi argues that limiting the eligibility to members of former imperial family branches violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality under the law.

He said the government enacted the revision despite warnings of possible unconstitutionality from scholars on a government panel, causing him emotional distress.

Speaking at a news conference after filing the suit, Kobayashi said that it is “a big problem” that a new class system will be created.

“I believe that equality is a source of Japan’s pride,” he said.

“We want to create a momentum that makes the court feel compelled to make a constitutional decision,” said attorney Rintaro Kuramochi, who represents the plaintiff.