JAPAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES IMPERIAL SUCCESSION CHANGES BUT MAINTAINS BAN ON...

Japan's parliament approved amendments to the Imperial House Law on Friday, making the first changes to the statute's main text since 1949. The legislation permits the imperial family to adopt male distant relatives over the age of 15 and allows their future sons to become eligible for the throne. The law also enables princesses to retain royal status after marrying outside the imperial family. A ban on female emperors remains in place, however, despite the changes.

Opinion polling suggests substantial public support for allowing women to become emperor. A nationwide survey conducted by Mainichi Shimbun in late March found that 61% of respondents supported female succession, with 9% opposed. A further poll of more than 2,000 people conducted in June recorded 73% in favour of a female emperor. Some conservative political figures, including Sanae Takaichi, remain opposed to female succession. Hideya Kawanishi, a professor at Nagoya University specialising in Japan's imperial system, stated the new bill "fails to reflect public opinion" and attributed the outcome to the conservative ruling faction's priority of preserving male-line succession.

Under current rules, the imperial line will pass to Emperor Naruhito's younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, and then to his nephew, Prince Hisahito. Without further amendments, the imperial bloodline would end if Hisahito does not have a son. The male-only succession rule originates from the 1889 Imperial House Law, which restricted the throne to men descended through the paternal line.