Japan Cabinet Approves Bill to Revise Imperial House Law

The Japanese government on Tuesday adopted a bill to revise the Imperial House Law. The measure seeks to maintain an adequate number of imperial family members. The bill marks the first substantial revision of the law since its establishment in 1947.

It was approved at a Cabinet meeting and includes provisions for the imperial family to adopt male, paternal-line descendants of former imperial family branches. Female members of the imperial family would be allowed to maintain their status after marriage. Sons of imperial family adoptees would remain eligible to succeed to the throne.

The government aims to enact the bill during the current Diet session, which is scheduled to end on July 17. Some opposition parties have criticized the provision on succession eligibility for adoptees' sons. They stated that the issue was not discussed by a government panel of experts or in ruling-opposition talks that reached a consensus earlier this month.

The current situation appears to have deviated from the calm environment that the government and the ruling bloc expected for discussions on stable imperial succession.