Japan approves imperial succession reform while maintaining male-only throne

Friday 17 July 2026 - 07:45

By: Sahili Aya

Japan approves imperial succession reform while maintaining male-only throne

Japan’s Parliament has approved a long-debated reform of the country’s imperial succession rules, introducing measures aimed at preserving the shrinking imperial family while maintaining the long-standing prohibition on women ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The legislation, passed by a large majority in the upper house, allows certain distant male relatives from former imperial branches to return to the imperial family through adoption, provided they are unmarried and at least 15 years old.

However, the reform stops short of changing the succession rules, meaning women remain ineligible to become emperor despite sustained public support for such a move.

Reform seeks to address succession concerns

The future of Japan’s imperial family has become an increasingly important issue because the number of eligible heirs has steadily declined.

Under current law, the line of succession rests primarily with Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito.

If Prince Hisahito does not have a male heir, the current succession system would face a significant challenge because inheritance rights can only pass through the male line under the post-war Imperial House Law.

Princess Aiko remains excluded

The revised legislation does not alter the rule preventing women from inheriting the throne, leaving Princess Aiko—the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako—ineligible to succeed her father.

The reform does, however, permit female members of the imperial family to retain their royal status after marrying commoners, a change intended to help preserve the size of the imperial household.

Previously, female royals generally lost their imperial status upon marriage to someone outside the imperial family, contributing to its gradual reduction in membership.

Political divisions remain

The legislation followed extensive negotiations within Japan’s governing coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has opposed allowing women to inherit the throne.

Not all members of the ruling party supported the final outcome. Veteran lawmaker Seiichiro Murakami publicly criticized the continued exclusion of Princess Aiko, arguing that preventing her from becoming emperor was unjustified.

Former imperial family member Asahiro Kuni also questioned whether asking distant relatives who have lived outside the imperial household for decades to return through adoption would be practical.

Public opinion favors broader reform

Recent opinion surveys indicate that a substantial majority of Japanese citizens support allowing women to inherit the throne.

According to a poll published by the Asahi Shimbun in May, 72% of respondents favored changing the succession rules to permit female emperors.

Despite that public backing, lawmakers opted for a more limited reform focused on expanding the pool of eligible male family members rather than fundamentally changing centuries of imperial succession tradition.

The debate over the future of Japan’s monarchy is therefore expected to continue as concerns about the long-term sustainability of the imperial line remain unresolved.