From TIME · Chad de Guzman · · 2m
Japan rewrites succession rules to save its monarchy
New laws allow princesses to stay royal and permit adoption of male heirs, but shut out women from the throne despite public support for female emperors.
In brief
New laws allow princesses to stay royal and permit adoption of male heirs, but shut out women from the throne despite public support for female emperors. Japan's parliament passed amendments to keep its shrinking imperial family alive by allowing princesses to retain royal status and permitting adoption of male heirs…
Japan's imperial family faces a crisis
Emperor Naruhito has only a few viable successors: his younger brother Akishino, his twenty-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito, then his ninety-year-old uncle Prince Hitachi. The shrinking pool has raised concerns about the monarchy's future.
Parliament passes two key amendments
Amendments to Japan's Imperial House Law passed in July took effect on Saturday. One allows Japanese princesses to keep royal status if they marry non-royals, though their children are not considered royals.
The adoption loophole for male heirs
The second amendment allows imperial family members to adopt males aged fifteen or older from former imperial branch families. Only the adoptees' male offspring can be considered legitimate successors to the throne.
Conservatives block female succession
The revisions reinforce the shutting out of women from leading the Japanese monarchy. Extreme right-wing factions in the Liberal Democratic Party, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have repeatedly opposed upending male-only succession.
The public wants female emperors
Past media surveys show more than eighty percent of Japanese respondents favored a female emperor.
Experts question the new heirs' legitimacy
Jeff Kingston, a professor of Asian history at Temple University's Japan campus in Tokyo, warns that adopted males from former imperial families may lack public acceptance.
“The problem of a monarchy is it's sort of based on a collectively held myth, belief, faith; and a sausage maker probably isn't going to have that magic.”
Public understanding remains low
An August poll from the Social Survey Research Center found that the revisions to the Imperial House Law have not gained the understanding of the Japanese public.Jeffrey J.
The emperor hints at what he wants
In June, Emperor Naruhito said he hopes any decision to expand the imperial family should have public support. He stated: I hope it will be something that gains the understanding of the people.
“I hope it will be something that gains the understanding of the people.”
Legal challenges already underway
Critics are studying how to turn the policy over, arguing it violates Japan's anti-discrimination law. Manga artist Yoshinori Kobayashi filed a lawsuit against the government calling the amendment unconstitutional.
At a glance
Japan's parliament passed amendments to keep its shrinking imperial family alive by allowing princesses to retain royal status and permitting adoption of male heirs, while blocking women from becoming emperor.
