Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17842602505041784260245111.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito (L) attends a ceremony to inherit the imperial regalia and seals at the Matsu-no-Ma state room inside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 1, 2019. Japan&#x27;s new Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, a day after his father abdicated from the world&#x27;s oldest monarchy and ushered in a new imperial era. STR / Japan Pool / Agence France-Presse</p><div><br/></div><div></div><p>Japan&#x27;s parliament enacted changes to the imperial succession law on Friday but maintained the bar on a woman becoming emperor despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea.</p><p>The future of the imperial household -- mythically descended from the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu -- hinges currently on <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/3/teen-heir-to-japanese-throne-says-marriage-not-on-his-mind-2010">Prince Hisahito</a>, the 19-year-old nephew of serving Emperor Naruhito, 66.</p><p>If Hisahito -- barely out of school and currently studying biology and insects and who is not married -- has no son, then under the rules as they stand he will have no heir and the bloodline will end.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/3/teen-heir-to-japanese-throne-says-marriage-not-on-his-mind-2010">Teen heir to Japanese throne says marriage not on his mind </a></div><p>The bill, passed by a large majority by the upper house on Friday, allows the adoption of male distant relatives over 15 back into the imperial family -- as long as they are single.</p><p>It also lets women keep their royal status after marrying a commoner, something which is already allowed for men.</p><p>Japan&#x27;s Imperial Household Law, in place since 1947, does not allow women to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne, and the right to the throne can only be passed through the male line.</p><p>This rules out popular Princess Aiko, 24, daughter of Naruhito, or Hisahito&#x27;s two elder sisters, ever becoming emperor.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/03/02/23/hubby-of-ex-japan-princess-mako-registered-as-lawyer-in-new-york">Husband of ex-Japan princess Mako registered as lawyer in New York </a></div><p>The legislation passed after considerable wrangling within the conservative ruling party of Sanae Takaichi, Japan&#x27;s first woman prime minister, who opposes female succession.</p><p>Seiichiro Murakami, a veteran of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said after the bill passed the lower house on July 10 that it was &quot;utterly outrageous&quot; to rule out the possibility of Aiko as emperor.</p><p>Former imperial family member Asahiro Kuni, 81, has said it would be unrealistic to adopt distant male relatives, adding he would advise his grandchildren to refuse such a proposal.</p><p>Kuni is a member of one of the 11 imperial branch families that left the imperial register after World War II.</p><p>&quot;By the age of 15, a person has grown up breathing the air of freedom,&quot; Kuni told the Asahi Shimbun daily.</p><p>&quot;I think it would be difficult to adapt to life in the imperial family.&quot;</p><p>&quot;There might be people who want to join the imperial family, but if they understood the hardships of life as a royal member, they probably wouldn&#x27;t say such a thing,&quot; Kuni added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/01/19/japans-new-imperial-couple-face-heavy-burden-of-tradition">Japan&#x27;s new imperial couple face heavy burden of tradition</a></div><p>The top-selling Yomiuri Shimbun daily, usually a vocal supporter of the LDP, also criticized the government in a recent editorial.</p><p>The imperial family now has 16 members in total, including five men -- retired emperor Akihito, who is 92, his 90-year-old brother, the 66-year-old emperor, his brother, and Hisahito.</p><p>An Asahi Shimbun poll in May showed 72 percent of respondents in favor of changing the rules to allow women to ascend the throne.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/marcos-receives-japan-s-highest-honor-in-state-call-with-emperor-1520">Marcos receives Japan&#x27;s highest honor in state call with Emperor</a><br/><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qe-tqa8IU88?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Japan's parliament enacted changes to the imperial succession law on Friday but maintained the bar on a woman becoming emperor despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea.</p>

Japan's parliament enacted changes to the imperial succession law on Friday but maintained the bar on a woman becoming emperor despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea.

Japan imperial rules tweaked but still no woman emperor

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Japan imperial rules tweaked but still no woman emperor

Agence France-Presse

Published July 17, 2026 11:51 AM PHT

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