Japan Revises Imperial Succession Law, Restricts Throne to Males

Japan's parliament has enacted a revised imperial succession law, a move that allows for the potential re-entry of male distant relatives into the imperial family. This adjustment aims to secure the future of the imperial line, which currently faces a potential shortage of heirs.

The new legislation permits male individuals aged 15 or older, who are currently unmarried, to be adopted back into the imperial household. Their male descendants would then be eligible to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. These individuals would come from 11 branches of the former imperial family that were separated after World War II.

This revision comes as Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, is the sole male heir in the direct line of succession. If he does not produce a male heir, the imperial bloodline, which traces its origins to the sun goddess Amaterasu, could end under current rules.

Despite the changes, the law upholds a stipulation from an 1889 imperial house law, carried over into the current Imperial Household Law of 1947, that only men can become emperor. This decision contrasts with public opinion, as recent polls indicate significant support for allowing women to ascend the throne. The legislation also ends the practice of women losing their royal status upon marrying a commoner, though their children remain ineligible for succession.

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For the conservative camp of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the likes, the overriding goal is to preserve the male-line, male-only