Key facts
- Japan's House of Representatives passed a bill to revise the Imperial House Law.
- The legislation permits the adoption of males aged 15 or older from 11 former imperial branch families.
- Female imperial family members will be allowed to retain their imperial status after marrying commoners.
- The bill excludes adopted members from ascending the throne but allows their male descendants eligibility.
- The ruling coalition aims for the bill's enactment during the current parliamentary session ending July 17.
Japan's House of Representatives has passed a bill to revise the Imperial House Law, marking a significant step towards addressing the declining number of imperial family members. The legislation, debated and passed within a single day, introduces key changes to the decades-old system.
The bill's primary provisions include allowing imperial family members to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line, specifically from 11 former branch families. Additionally, female members of the imperial family will be permitted to retain their status even after marrying commoners. However, adopted members themselves will be barred from ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne, though their male descendants will be eligible.
The legislation, submitted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government, does not address the contentious issue of female or maternal-line emperors, an idea that has public support. Current law restricts succession to males with an emperor on their father's side and requires women to relinquish their imperial status upon marriage.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, now aim to secure passage of the bill in the House of Councillors before the current parliamentary session concludes on July 17. The ruling bloc's substantial majority in the lower chamber facilitated the bill's swift approval, overcoming previous parliamentary gridlock caused by opposition parties' concerns over the ruling bloc's legislative approach.