Japanese Parliament Reforms Imperial Household Law, Enabling Return of Male Collateral Lines

Background of the Reform

The reform creates the possibility for men from families that were excluded from the imperial family after the Second World War to be reincorporated into the Chrysanthemum Throne. Their descendants could then also once again become members of the imperial house.

The debate over a reform had intensified in recent years because the number of male candidates for the throne continued to decline. At the same time, the question of whether women should also be able to ascend to the throne was raised repeatedly.

Advocates of opening the throne to women had pointed, among others, to Naruhito's daughter Aiko. However, a corresponding change was not included in the adopted revision.

Restriction to Male Collateral Lines

The current reform is limited to male collateral lines. It thus takes up a compromise that has long been favored in conservative circles in Japan.

The passage occurred as expected, as the AFP agency reported. It remains unclear when the first male descendants of former collateral lines will actually be readmitted to the imperial family.

Among the lawmakers who supported the bill was, according to AFP, the politician Takaichi. Details of the parliamentary debate were not elaborated further in the available reports.

Historical Context of the Imperial Household Law

The Imperial Household Law dates from 1947, that is, from the period after the Second World War, when the Japanese constitution was redesigned. At that time, several collateral lines of the imperial house were separated from the imperial family.

With the revision, a door is now being opened to partially reverse this historical decision. Following its passage by parliament, the reform will come into force once it is promulgated.

Observers assess the step as an attempt to secure the long-term stability of the succession without fundamentally calling into question the existing regulation on male succession.

At the same time, the number of possible heirs to the throne remains modest. Should Prince Hisahito have no male offspring in the future, the debate over a reform could resurface.