Japan passes imperial succession reform preserving male line

Japan’s parliament approved an amendment to the Imperial Household Law, allowing male relatives over 15 to be adopted into the royal family and permitting princesses to keep their imperial status after marrying commoners. The reform retains the rule that only men may ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne, keeping the male‑only succession line intact.

The changes aim to address a demographic crisis in the imperial house, where only three male heirs remain and the only child of Emperor Naruhito, Princess Aiko, is barred from succession. Public opinion strongly favors allowing a female emperor—over 80 % in recent polls—yet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party insist on preserving the patrilineal tradition. The law also seeks to expand the pool of male heirs by readmitting descendants of former collateral branches eliminated after World War II.