Japan moves to adopt male relatives to preserve imperial succession

Japan’s parliament is advancing a proposal to avert a succession crisis in the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy. The draft plan would allow the imperial family to adopt distant male relatives from former branch houses and let female royals retain their status after marriage, aiming to increase the number of eligible heirs. The imperial household has shrunk to 16 members, with only three male heirs – Crown Prince Akishino, his son Prince Hisahito, and Prince Hitachi – left in the line of succession. Lawmakers hope to finalise the measures before the parliamentary session ends on July 17, with House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori overseeing the effort. While public polls show strong support for allowing a female emperor, the proposal maintains the male‑only succession rule, reflecting conservative resistance to broader reforms.