Japan relaxes imperial succession law but keeps ban on female emperors

Japan's parliament passed revisions to the country's imperial succession law on Friday, allowing male descendants of former royal family branches who are at least 15 years old to be adopted back into the imperial household. The change is intended to expand the pool of eligible successors to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The reform stops short of allowing women to ascend to the throne or remain in the imperial family after marrying commoners, rules that have drawn criticism from advocates of gender equality and some lawmakers who argue the succession system is unsustainable in its current form. Japan's Imperial Household Law has restricted succession to male heirs since 1947.

Supporters of the revised law said it offers a pragmatic near-term fix as the number of male heirs dwindles, with only a handful of eligible successors currently in line. Debate over broader reforms, including whether to allow female or matrilineal emperors, is expected to continue in parliament.