Published On 10/6/2026
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Last update: 20:33 (Mecca time)
On Wednesday, Japan’s parliament approved several amendments aimed at resolving the emperor’s succession crisis, including proposals that would allow families to adopt distant male relatives.
The future of the imperial family depends on Prince Hisahito (19 years old), the only young male heir to the throne, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the throne after his father.
Only male descendants through the father’s line are allowed to ascend to the throne.
Emperor Naruhito has a daughter called Princess Aiko, but she is excluded from the throne under the rules that reserve it for men only.
Parliament has largely approved proposals to amend the Imperial Family Law to allow women to retain their status even after marrying someone outside the family, and to allow the imperial family to adopt distant male relatives, in order to find solutions to the succession crisis.
House Speaker Eisuke Mori said that men who are adopted will not become heirs to the throne, but their sons can join the line of succession.
He added during a press conference: “We believe that we have achieved the best possible result.”
He pointed out that Parliament will communicate its proposals to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose government will prepare a draft law, and after that Parliament will discuss the draft law, which Mori hopes will be approved before next July 17.
