18.07.2026 14:21
The Japanese Parliament approved a critical amendment to the Imperial House Law due to the decreasing number of males eligible for the throne. The new regulation allows the adoption of males from former imperial family members and enables female members who marry commoners to retain their imperial status.
Japan's parliament has accepted the amendment to the Imperial House Law due to the decreasing number of males entitled to ascend the throne.
REVISION MADE IN THE 2,600-YEAR-OLD DYNASTY SYSTEM
According to Kyodo News, the upper house of parliament, the House of Councillors, approved the law amendment previously passed by the House of Representatives. It was reported that with the comprehensive revision of the Imperial House Law, male members aged 15 and over among former members of the dynasty who had lost their imperial status in the past are now allowed to be adopted into the imperial family.
PRINCESSES WHO MARRY COMMONERS WILL NOT LOSE THEIR STATUS
With the new regulation, female members of the imperial family are allowed to retain their imperial status if they marry commoners. Before the regulation, women who married commoners had to lose their status as imperial family members and leave the family.
SUCCESSION SYSTEM UNCHANGED
However, the current succession system, which allows only males from the paternal imperial lineage to inherit the throne, has not been changed. In the Japanese monarchy, which is considered to have a history of about 2,600 years, the succession to the throne has traditionally been maintained through the male line on the father's side.