Forget empress, let's have concubines, says prince By Colin Joyce in Tokyo (Filed: 04/11/2005) A Japanese prince has shocked the country with an attack on plans to let women ascend the imperial throne. Prince Tomohito, 59, the emperor's cousin and fifth in line to the throne, became the first member of the imperial family to speak out on the issue when he called on the nation not to abandon tradition. Under the constitution, the monarchy plays a purely symbolic role and members of the royal family are forbidden from making political statements, even on matters of direct concern to them....
