{"id":64647,"date":"2026-07-27T14:49:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T14:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/64647\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:49:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T14:49:37","slug":"japans-new-royal-succession-law-to-take-effect-in-october-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/64647\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan\u2019s New Royal Succession Law to Take Effect in October"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan’s new Imperial House Law<\/a> will take effect on October 24. The new law, passed earlier this month, “allows male, paternal-line descendants of the 11 former Imperial Family branches to be adopted into the Imperial Family, and female Imperial Family members to remain within the family after marriage,” per Nippon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Those eligible to be adopted by the Japanese Imperial Family<\/a> must be at least 15 years old, unmarried, and have no children. “Upon adoption, they would gain imperial status, as would their future spouse and children,” notes<\/a> Asahi. “While the adoptee himself would have no right to the throne, sons born to him would enter the line of succession.” Senior royals\u2014Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Emperor Emeritus Akihito<\/a>, Empress Emerita Michiko, Crown Prince Fumihito, and Crown Princess Kiko\u2014cannot be adoptive parents.<\/p>\n

Currently, there are are only three people<\/a> eligible to follow Emperor Nahurito on the Chrysanthemum Throne: his 60-year-old brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, his 19-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito, and his 90-year-old uncle, Prince Hitachi. Under the new law, Princess Aiko<\/a>, the only child of Emperor Nahurito<\/a> and Empress Masako<\/a>, is still not eligible to succeed her father on the throne, but will be able to keep her royal title after marriage. (Though, following the passage of the new succession law, public support for female emperors passed 80% in a poll<\/a> by Nikkei and TV Tokyo.)<\/p>\n

The Japanese royals themselves have not commented on the change, though Emperor Nahurito said<\/a> last month, “I hope the discussions about securing an adequate number of imperial family members can gain the understanding of the people.” Preparations for the law to go into effect are expected to be led by the Imperial Household Agency.<\/p>\n

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