The Japanese Parliament has passed a new law allowing the Imperial family to adopt males over the age of 15 from among their distant relatives.

Main Changes and Features of the Law

  • Adoption and Succession: Under the new rules, the future sons of adopted individuals are also granted the right to inherit the imperial throne.

  • Princesses: Princesses are allowed to retain their status even if they marry commoners or individuals not belonging to the Imperial family.

  • Provisions Regarding Women: Despite the popularity among the public of 24-year-old Princess Aiko, the daughter of reigning Emperor Naruhito, the ban on women becoming emperor remains in force under the law. Throne succession passes exclusively through the male line.

Current Order of Succession and Public Opinion

According to current rules, following Emperor Naruhito, the throne will pass to his 60-year-old younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, and subsequently to his 19-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito.

It is believed that this parliamentary decision does not fully reflect public opinion. Although over 70 percent of citizens participating in polls support female emperors, Prime Minister Sanae Takaiti and conservative politicians of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party continue to advocate for the throne to be inherited solely by males.

The rule restricting the throne's succession to males has been in place since the Imperial Household Law of 1889. These newly introduced amendments represent the first major revision to the core text of the law since 1949.