Japan's parliament has approved a bill to relax imperial succession rules, a move prompted by concerns over the shrinking size of the imperial family. The legislation, passed by the upper house on Friday, permits the adoption of distant male relatives aged over 15 into the imperial family and allows women to retain their royal status even after marrying outside the family.
Despite widespread public support for female emperors, the bill does not alter the existing law that bars women from ascending the throne. This means Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito, remains ineligible to succeed him. The bill is expected to pass through final legal procedures before its changes take effect.
Japan's monarchy is the world's oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, with a lineage stretching back over 2,600 years. Currently, Emperor Naruhito's younger brother, 60-year-old Fumihito, is first in line to the throne. He is followed by his son, 19-year-old Prince Hisahito, who is second in line. The emperor's 90-year-old uncle is third in line and the last eligible male candidate. Without intervention, the line of succession faces the possibility of ending if Prince Hisahito does not have a male heir.
The new bill addresses this potential issue by allowing male descendants from 11 former imperial branches, which were removed from the family after World War II, to be adopted back into the imperial line. This measure aims to ensure the continuity of the male line of succession.