Controversial law in Japan proposes to prevent women from accessing the throne

Japan's Imperial House Law is at the center of a contentious debate with a proposed reform that could effectively prevent women from ever inheriting the Chrysanthemum Throne. The world's oldest monarchy, with a 2,600-year history, faces a succession crisis due to a scarcity of male heirs.

While a previous proposal to allow the first empress was not implemented, the current conservative government is pushing for a modification that would bar female succession. The lower house of Japan's parliament approved a bill last Friday to reform the Imperial House Law, aiming to maintain the number of imperial family members. If the upper house also approves, women could remain in the imperial family after marriage. The reform would also permit the adoption of male descendants from 11 former imperial branches.

However, adopted individuals would not be eligible to ascend the throne, though their male descendants could. This means that even if a woman is in the direct line of succession, she would be barred from becoming emperor. The birth of Prince Hisahito in 2006, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and nephew of Emperor Naruhito, ended the hopes of Princess Aiko, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako's daughter, of becoming heir.

Historically, women who married commoners were forced to leave the Imperial Household and were disowned. This policy, which led to lives outside the palaces for women like Mako, a cousin of Princess Aiko, who married in 2021 and moved to New York, is still in place. The proposed parliamentary changes could alter this dynamic, allowing women to retain their royal status even after marriage.