Japan's Upper House Passes Revisions to Imperial Succession Law

Japan's upper house of parliament voted July 17 to pass revisions to the law governing imperial succession. The lower house had approved the same measures a few days earlier. The revisions allow princesses to stay in the imperial family after marrying a commoner.

Princesses who remain must perform royal duties but cannot inherit the throne. The family may also adopt male-line descendants from former branches, though adopted men born as commoners cannot inherit the throne. Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old nephew of Emperor Naruhito, remains the only young heir in the imperial family.

Emperor Naruhito is 66. His only child, 24-year-old Princess Aiko, holds a degree in Japanese literature and works full time for the Japanese Red Cross Society. Polls show 60% to 90% of Japanese support the idea of female emperors.

Japan has had eight female emperors in nearly twelve centuries, all descended from the male line. The first Imperial Household Law establishing male-only succession was passed in 1889. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in April at a party convention that the imperial line has been maintained through the male line for 126 generations.

Seiichiro Noboru, a former Japanese diplomat with ties to the imperial family, said the revisions have a clear objective to prevent a female emperor. Emperor Naruhito told a press conference last month that he hoped discussions about securing an adequate number of imperial family members would gain the understanding of the people.