Japan Approves Draft Reform of Imperial House Law to Expand Succession Options

Japan's cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Imperial House Law in an extraordinary meeting, aiming to ensure a sufficient number of members of the imperial family. The proposal would allow women of the imperial family to remain members after marriage and introduce a provision for adopting male individuals from former collateral branches—men at least 15 years old, without spouses or children. Adopted males would not inherit the throne unless a male child is born after the adoption.

The bill will be presented to the Diet for passage in the current session. Opposition parties boycotted the cabinet meeting to protest the ruling coalition's handling of the process. The reform is driven by the scarcity of male heirs; the only young male in the line of succession is 18‑year‑old Hisahito, son of Prince Akishino. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female premier, did not consider reopening succession to women despite public support.