Japan's upper house of parliament passes bill to expand imperial family membership while maintaining male-only succession for the throne.
Japan's upper house of parliament has voted to pass revisions to the Imperial House Law, the first major overhaul of the system since 1949. The bill aims to address a looming succession crisis by allowing the imperial family to adopt male descendants from 11 former collateral branches. Additionally, the revisions permit princesses to retain their royal status after marrying commoners, though they will still be unable to inherit the throne. The administration announced these changes to secure the number of imperial family members as the current ranks dwindle and age. While the bill provides a short-term fix for the shortage of heirs, it notably preserves the traditional male-only succession. This decision faces some criticism from the public, as polls show high support for a female emperor. However, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other conservative leaders argue that maintaining the male line is essential for the legitimacy of the monarchy. Currently, the line of succession is limited to three eligible candidates, with 19-year-old Prince Hisahito being the most likely successor.