Japan Press Weekly

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2019 March 27 - April 2 [POLITICS]

Gov't spokesman in campaign speech uses Emperor for political purposes

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide, in a campaign speech he gave in Yokohama City on March 30 in order to support Liberal Democratic Party candidates, said that he will be in charge of ceremonies pertaining to the change of the Emperor. Using the Emperor for political purposes is unconstitutional.

Suga's speech violates the Constitution which strictly prohibits the political use of the Emperor and also runs counter to Article 1 of the Constitution stating that the Emperor, based on the principle of popular sovereignty, is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".

Suga in the speech said that he hopes that the Emperor-related ceremonial events, which he said he will be in charge of, will be celebrated by everyone and asked for cooperation and understanding from voters.