Japan’s parliament approved amendments to the imperial succession law on July 18, 2026, maintaining the prohibition on women ascending the Chrysanthemum Throne while introducing measures to expand the pool of eligible male heirs. The changes allow the reintegration of certain male descendants from former imperial branches, provided they are unmarried and over 15 years old, enabling their male offspring to become eligible for succession in the future.
The imperial household, regarded in Japanese tradition as descending from the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, currently faces challenges securing its male lineage. Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, is the only eligible male heir under the existing laws. Should he not produce a male successor, the current rules, which restrict the throne to male patrilineal descendants, risk ending the imperial bloodline. This law dates back to an 1889 statute and was reaffirmed in the 1947 Imperial Household Law. Notably, this legislation excludes women, including Emperor Naruhito’s 24-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, from ascending to the throne.
The amendments also end the longstanding practice whereby female members of the imperial family lose their royal status upon marrying commoners. However, as the rules still prohibit female succession, children born to female royals remain ineligible for the throne.
The issue has sparked debate within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first woman to hold the position. Takaichi opposes female succession, emphasizing adherence to tradition. Despite this, some voices within and outside the party have expressed disagreement. Seiichiro Murakami, an LDP veteran, described the exclusion of Princess Aiko as “utterly outrageous.” Meanwhile, Asahiro Kuni, 81, a member of one of the eleven former imperial branches now eligible for reintegration, stated he would advise his grandchildren against joining the imperial family. Kuni cited the value of personal freedom developed by age 15 as a reason.
Public opinion polls show significant support for allowing women to assume the throne. A Mainichi Shimbun survey in June indicated that over 70 percent of respondents favor a female emperor, with 40 percent supporting succession through the maternal line. In contrast, only 23 percent supported succession by male heirs from re-adopted branches, with 34 percent opposed. An Asahi Shimbun poll from May also found 72 percent backing a change to permit female succession.
The imperial family currently comprises 16 members, including five men: retired Emperor Akihito, 92, his brother, 90, Emperor Naruhito, the emperor’s brother, and Prince Hisahito. With the population of eligible males dwindling, the government’s choice to maintain the male-only succession rule continues to fuel debate regarding the future of the Japanese monarchy.