Japan's parliament has passed revisions to the 19th-century Imperial House Law that preserve the male-only succession rule while introducing measures to address the shrinking size of the imperial family.
Key points
- The new law allows the adoption of distant male relatives from the 'old palace' families to serve as future heirs.
- Princesses are now permitted to retain their royal status after marrying commoners, though their spouses and children will not gain royal status or succession rights.
- The legislation is intended to stabilize the imperial institution, which currently has only three eligible male heirs.
- Critics argue the measures reinforce a patriarchal system and continue to exclude popular figures like Princess Aiko from the throne.
Why it matters
The revision addresses the long-term viability of one of the world's oldest hereditary institutions amid a demographic crisis, while sparking significant debate over gender equality and tradition.
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