Japan revises law on royals, keeps blocking women from throne

A popular princess drives support for having a female Japanese Emperor. But the country's first female prime minister opposes it.

By Anthony Kuhn

Asian nation with 1,500-year-old imperial line insists only men can become emperor in policy revision

Japan's Parliament revised the Imperial House Law to cement male-only succession, blocking Princess Aiko from inheriting the throne despite public support.

Japan changes rules to save shrinking monarchy, but bars female emperors

Japan’s parliament approved on Friday a revised Imperial House Law to address the issue of the shrinking royal family, while retaining the long-standing male-only succession system, despite public support for female emperors. The first substantive revision to the 1947 law introduced two changes – permitting the adoption of males aged 15 and over from former branch families descended from emperors through the male line and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after...

By Kyodo

Japan changes imperial succession law but keeps ban on female emperor

Japan's parliament on Friday enacted changes to imperial succession rules, allowing male distant relatives to rejoin the imperial family and women to retain royal status after marrying commoners. The legislation, however, keeps the ban on female emperors despite opinion polls showing broad public support for allowing women to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.

By FRANCE 24

Japan tweaks imperial law but keeps throne male-only, barring women emperors

The legislation, passed by a large majority in the upper house, permits unmarried male descendants from former imperial branch families to be adopted back into the imperial household. It also allows female members of the imperial family to retain their royal status after marrying commoners, a privilege that was already available to male royals.

By TOI World Desk