Japan's Parliament approves law revisions to secure imperial family size while maintaining male-only succession for the throne.

Japan's upper house of parliament has voted to pass revisions to the Imperial House Law, a move that secures the number of imperial family members as the ranks dwindle and age. The revisions allow princesses to retain their royal status after marrying commoners and permit the adoption of male-line descendants from former branches of the imperial family. While these changes provide a larger pool of royals to perform public duties, the law maintains the strict requirement that only men can inherit the throne. The decision preserves the male-only succession established in the 1800s, despite significant public support for a female monarch. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other conservative leaders argued that the male bloodline is the foundation of the emperor's authority and legitimacy. However, critics and many citizens favor allowing Princess Aiko, the 24-year-old only child of Emperor Naruhito, to succeed her father. Currently, the line of succession is limited to the emperor's younger brother, his nephew Prince Hisahito, and the emperor's 90-year-old uncle.

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