Japanese Parliament Moves Forward with Imperial House Reform

The only young man in the line of succession is Prince Hisahito, the emperor's nephew. Should Hisahito have no male offspring, the male line would effectively be broken. The government hopes to complete the reform before the regular end of the current parliamentary session on July 17.

Princess Aiko Remains Excluded

Naruhito's daughter Princess Aiko (24) would also be denied the throne in the future. Under the current Imperial House Law, women are excluded from the line of succession. However, a recent poll by the Japanese news agency Kyodo found that 83 percent of respondents support the possibility of a female monarch.

According to the Japanese Constitution, the emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the nation." This symbolic role makes the question of succession a politically highly sensitive issue that extends far beyond dynastic questions.

Advocates of Fundamental Reform

Among the advocates of fundamental reform is Naotaka Kimizuka. He demands that Article 1 of the law be deleted and completely reformulated. "Man muss die Bestimmung über männliche Nachfolger aus der männlichen Linie abschaffen", so Kimizuka. "Weil man darauf besteht, dass der Nachfolger ein Mann sein muss, sucht man nun gewissermaßen sehr weit entfernte Verwandte."

Kimizuka belongs to a group of politicians who want to reformulate the entire law. They argue that the current regulation is no longer in keeping with the times and endangers the stability of the monarchy. The search for distant relatives from former noble houses is a symptom of the failed succession regulation.

Resistance to the Reform

But not all Japanese support fundamental reform. The 70-year-old housewife Keiko, who describes herself as a fervent admirer of the imperial family, considers the legal change rushed. She thereby represents a part of the population that wishes to hold on to traditional structures.

The reform is also controversial within the political class. Politicians such as Sanae Takaichi, who belongs to the conservative faction, have made their voices heard in the debate. The differing positions reflect the tension between tradition and modernization that has long characterized Japanese society.

Time for a solution is pressing, as the Japanese Imperial House today counts only 16 members. Under the current structure, the male line of succession threatens to die out in the foreseeable future. The government therefore sees a need for action.

Outlook: Vote in the Upper House

The bill passed by the lower house must now pass the upper house. Should the upper house also approve, the reform could take effect before the end of the parliamentary session on July 17. It would be the first major change to the Imperial House Law in almost 80 years.

The discussion about the future of the monarchy touches on fundamental questions of Japanese identity. In a poll conducted by the news agency Kyodo, a clear majority of 83 percent of respondents spoke out in favor of the possibility of a female monarch. This shows that the population is more open on this question than the traditional legislation.

Advocates of reform argue that the monarchy can only survive if it adapts to social reality. This also includes gender equality in the line of succession. Opponents, on the other hand, warn of a break with centuries-old traditions.

The coming days will show whether the upper house approves the bill and whether the reform can be passed in time. Should this succeed, it would be a historic step for the Japanese monarchy and a signal for the further modernization of the institution.

The news was broadcast on July 10, 2026 on the program Deutschlandfunk. The dpa reports that the discussion about the future of the Imperial House in Japan is being conducted intensively and various interest groups are presenting their positions.