Japan is a monarchy and there is nothing archaic about monarchies - SIZO KI SIZO!

01 May 2019
Author  Sibeta Mundia, Barotseland Post
Japan is a monarchy and there is nothing archaic about monarchies - SIZO KI SIZO!
Emperor Naruhito delivers his first speech on May 1, 2019. Picture courtesy of Handout/Imperial Household Agency of Japan via Getty Images.

A monarchy is a country or territory ruled by an Emperor, King, Queen, Prince, Sultan, Caliph, Pope or Czar and these countries may be known as Kingdom, Empire, Holy See, Caliphate, etc.

Some myopic people think monarchies are outdated or old fashioned just because they live under or prefer republics which are considered the very opposite of monarchies.

However, monarchies are neither old fashioned nor are they necessarily totalitarian (autocratic). In fact, Autocracies or Dictatorships can actually be found among some professed Republics as well as some Monarchies.

There are hundreds of fully fledged monarchies in the world today, with over fifty of them in the United Nations (UN), prominent among them being; Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Bahamas, New Zealand, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vatican City, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Swaziland and Lesotho just to name a few.

Many monarchies have democratic and constitutional types of government while a few practice autocratic and totalitarian types of government.

Constitutional monarchs are also known as ‘Limited’ monarchs while totalitarian monarchs are commonly referred to as ‘Absolute’ monarchs.

Barotseland is also a monarchy espousing to be a democratic constitutional monarchy where periodic elections will be held to elect a Prime Minister as head of government while the Litunga, Monarch of Barotseland, remains the constitutional head of state.

Democratic constitutional monarchies are among the most politically stable and best-governed countries of the world today and are indeed some of the most prosperous economies because of their power-sharing and power balancing style of governance between the elected politicians on one hand and the monarch on the other.

In Japan, for example, a new Emperor, Naruhito, has ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne today after the long prosperous reign of his father, Emperor Akihito, who abdicated the throne in an elaborate abdication ritual which began at a Shinto shrine yesterday morning as Japan embraced the end of his reign to give way to his son as the new emperor of Japan.

In a low key ritual today, Wednesday, at the Imperial Palace, Naruhito, 59, inherited the royal regalia that serve as ceremonial proof of his ascension, including a sacred sword and jewels, while a more extravagant enthronement is set for October 22, which will involve visits from heads of state and government from around the world, a series of banquets and a parade through the streets of Tokyo.

“In accordance with the constitution, I vow to fulfill my responsibilities as a symbol to the nation and the people of Japan,” said Naruhito, the first emperor born after World War Two. “I wish for happiness and prosperity for the nation, and for world peace.”

While his position no longer bestows political power or the status as a living god, Naruhito will serve as titular head of the country of 126 million people. He’ll bring an international background to the role, having spent two years studying at the University of Oxford in his twenties. His wife, Masako, a former diplomat, studied at Harvard University, as well as Oxford.

Barotseland would do well to congratulate Japan and its new Emperor and perhaps learn from its long-standing good governance and adherence to their cultural and traditional royal norms in this digital and technically sophisticated modern world.

'SIZO KI SIZO' is a siLozi phrase to illustrate the enduring nature of culture!

SOURCES: Bloomberg and Media Sources

For more on why Constitutional Monarchy is the best type of Government on earth today see this article http://barotselandpost.com/top-stories/is-constitutional-monarchy-the-best-type-of-government-on-earth-today-answer-will-surprise-you

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The Barotseland Post, also known as The Barotsepost, is an online media platform, for now, that is dedicated to reporting stories and news around Barotseland and beyond, giving exclusive coverage and access to the people and the nation of Barotseland to fully express themselves in their aspirations for self- determination.