Japan's Parliament passes historic revisions to Imperial House Law to preserve male-lineage succession and expand the royal family.
Japan's upper house of parliament voted to pass revisions to the Imperial House Law, the first major overhaul of the text since 1949. The changes aim to stabilize the world's oldest continuous hereditary monarchy by allowing the imperial family to adopt male descendants from former branches and permitting princesses to retain their royal status after marrying commoners. While the revisions address the dwindling number of royal members, they notably maintain the requirement that only men can ascend the throne. This decision preserves the paternal-lineage tradition, which Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argues is the foundation of the emperor's legitimacy. However, the move remains controversial as it excludes Princess Aiko, the popular only child of Emperor Naruhito, from becoming the next monarch. Despite high public support for a female emperor, the administration opted to prioritize tradition over gender parity. The revisions ensure the monarchy can fulfill its public duties as the family ages, while providing a safety net for the succession line, which currently rests on the 19-year-old Prince Hisahito.