Japan's parliament on Friday revised the Imperial House Law to address the issue of the shrinking royal family, while retaining the long-standing male-only succession system, despite public support for female emperors.
The first substantive revision to the 1947 law introduced two changes - permitting the adoption of males aged 15 and over from former imperial branch families descended from emperors through the male line and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.
Despite the historic changes to the world's oldest hereditary monarchy, the conservative ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced criticism from opposition lawmakers for insufficient parliamentary deliberations.
They also have criticised the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, for their apparent push to preserve the tradition of paternal-line male-only imperial succession. Under the revised law, male descendants of those adopted into the imperial family could ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Such adoptions were once considered unfeasible. But the legal change approved by the House of Councillors paved the way for unmarried male descendants of the 11 former branch families that lost their royal status decades ago to join the current 16-member imperial family.
"I am deeply grateful for the enactment," Takaichi told a parliamentary session, stressing that the purpose of the legislation is "to ensure a stable number of imperial family members." She pledged to explain that aim to the public to gain their "full understanding."
Among opposition forces in the upper house, the largest Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and some small parties voted against the bill, while the other major forces including the Democratic Party for the People, the Komeito Party and the Sanseito Party backed it.
Imperial succession has been a pressing but divisive issue at a time when Japan has only three male heirs to 66-year-old Emperor Naruhito.
The emperor and Empress Masako, once a commoner, have just one child, 24-year-old Princess Aiko. Despite her popularity, she cannot ascend the throne because she is female. Under the revised law, however, she would have the option of retaining her royal status if she marries a commoner.
Monthslong cross-party talks and the resulting "consensus" of the legislature, based on the views of 13 parliamentary parties and groups, did not address the succession issue. However, Takaichi's government has maintained that male descendants can ascend the throne under the law.
At the Diet session, Takaichi said granting succession eligibility to male offspring of adopted members simply reflects the application of the existing legal framework, while emphasizing that it is not intended to "preempt or restrict future discussions" in parliament.
The 1947 Imperial House Law took effect while Japan was under US occupation following World War II. Back then, a total of 51 members of the 11 former branches were removed from the imperial family.
That law stated that the throne "shall be succeeded to by a male offspring in the male line belonging to the Imperial Lineage," a stance that remains intact to this day.
The latest legal revision, a priority for Takaichi - the first woman to lead Japan as premier - makes no mention of female or maternal-line emperors.
Despite this legal consistency, the public appears to be more accepting of change. In May, a Kyodo News poll showed that 83.0% of respondents supported allowing female emperors, while 13.1% opposed the idea.
The provision that only males with an emperor in their paternal lineage can ascend the throne remains unchanged. But female members, such as Princess Aiko, will no longer need to relinquish their imperial status if they wish to marry.
Their spouses or children, however, will be unable to join the imperial family and will remain commoners. To ensure family cohesion and that female members maintaining imperial status can manage their everyday lives, they will also be listed on the Basic Resident Register, the same as most Japanese people.
Following the enactment, Buichiro Kuroda, grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, said in a comment that his agency will make every possible effort to support activities of the imperial family members by "giving full consideration to their wishes."
The new imperial system established under the revised law will be reviewed every 30 years if necessary, considering the progress made in making it sustainable.
The two major changes that were legislated this time were originally proposed in 2021 by a government panel following a nonbinding resolution in 2017, in which parliamentary committees urged the government to promptly address the "challenges of ensuring a stable imperial succession."
However, the resolution did not address whether women or individuals descended from an emperor through the female line could ascend the throne, stating that exploring this option was premature.
The LDP-JIP coalition included a pledge to revise the Imperial House Law in their agreement, which was signed on Oct 20. Takaichi expressed her intention to fulfill this pledge during the current Diet session.
Japan's hereditary monarchy is said to date back over 2,600 years, including early emperors whose existence is disputed, as well as several female emperors from several hundred years ago. The throne has consistently been passed down through the male line.
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