The following abbreviations are used in the text and notes:
| CCP |
Chinese Communist Party |
| CIE |
Civil Information and Education Section (SCAP) |
| DPJ |
Democratic Party of Japan |
| DSP |
Democratic Socialist Party |
| JCP |
Japan Communist Party |
| JSP |
Japan Socialist Party |
| LDP |
Liberal Democratic Party |
| NLC |
New Liberal Club |
| PARC |
Policy Affairs Research Council (LDP) |
| SCAP |
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers |
| SDF |
Self Defense Forces |
A chart showing some members of the royal family to help illustrate, in particular, the heir crisis as of 2019.
* Kuroda Sayako, formerly Princess Nori, lost her royal status upon marriage in 2005.