Japan to Revise Imperial Household Law to Maintain Royal Family Size, Aiming for Bill Submission by Late June
The Japanese government is advancing plans to revise the Imperial Household Law to stabilize the royal family's size and succession system. Key proposals include allowing female royals to retain their status after marriage and enabling male-line descendants from former imperial branches to rejoin the royal family through adoption, with a bill expected to be submitted to the Diet by late June.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 19:01
- 🔍 Collected: June 13, 2026 at 00:43 (5h 42m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 13, 2026 at 12:13 (11h 29m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Tokyo, June 12 — Reporter Daisy Tai) Japan’s government has made new progress in pushing for revisions to the Imperial Household Law. Prime Minister Takashi Shigeru stated today that she hopes the ruling coalition will first coordinate on the details of the proposed system before publicly presenting the legislative package. The government is currently preparing to finalize a cabinet decision by late June and submit the bill to the Diet.
Japan’s current Imperial Household Law stipulates that the throne must be inherited by a male from the male-line lineage. Presently, only Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Prince Akishino (Fumihito), and his son, Prince Hisahito, remain in the line of succession. The size of the imperial family continues to shrink as female members lose their royal status upon marriage. This revision is widely regarded as one of the most significant reforms to the imperial system in recent years, aimed at maintaining a stable number of royal family members and ensuring the continuity of the imperial succession.
According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Takashi said during a meeting today at the Prime Minister’s Office with Toshifumi Fujita, co-representative of the Japan Innovation Party, that since the ruling coalition must share responsibility, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Innovation Party should first thoroughly discuss the institutional details to avoid divergent interpretations once the bill is made public. Fujita later revealed that the government is coordinating with the goal of finalizing the cabinet decision by late June.
On June 10, the presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors compiled a 'Legislative Consensus' on the revision. After cross-party discussions, they agreed on two main approaches to address the ongoing decline in the number of royals: First, allowing female royals to retain their royal status after marriage; second, enabling male-line descendants from 11 former imperial branches that lost their status in 1947 to rejoin the imperial family through adoption.
However, the most controversial issue in the first proposal—whether spouses and children of female royals should also be granted royal status—was not clearly resolved in the consensus. It only states that relevant measures will be further studied if necessary.
Regarding the return of descendants from former imperial branches, the consensus requires the government to further examine details such as adoption procedures and age restrictions, and confirms that 'the adoptee themselves shall not have eligibility for imperial succession.'
The consensus also stipulates that the relevant system should be 'reviewed at regular intervals.' Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ishii Keiichi stated that the envisioned review cycle is approximately every 20 to 30 years.
According to the legislative consensus, after the government completes the basic framework of the bill, it must first report to the presiding officers of both Diet chambers. Once the outline is finalized, the government must brief all political parties in the Diet before formally submitting the bill for deliberation. Therefore, even if the government aims to complete the revision quickly, it must still go through cross-party consultations and procedural confirmations.
Before departing yesterday for official visits to the Netherlands and Belgium, Emperor Naruhito made his first public remarks on the issue. He stated, 'I refrain from expressing opinions on the system itself,' but added that he hopes the proposed measures 'will gain the understanding of the people.'
Under current plans, if the bill is successfully submitted by late June, the Diet may follow the 2017 precedent of the 'Special Act on Emperor’s Abdication,' with both chambers conducting short-term deliberations before voting. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150612
(Tokyo, June 12 — Reporter Daisy Tai) Japan’s government has made new progress in pushing for revisions to the Imperial Household Law. Prime Minister Takashi Shigeru stated today that she hopes the ruling coalition will first coordinate on the details of the proposed system before publicly presenting the legislative package. The government is currently preparing to finalize a cabinet decision by late June and submit the bill to the Diet.
Japan’s current Imperial Household Law stipulates that the throne must be inherited by a male from the male-line lineage. Presently, only Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Prince Akishino (Fumihito), and his son, Prince Hisahito, remain in the line of succession. The size of the imperial family continues to shrink as female members lose their royal status upon marriage. This revision is widely regarded as one of the most significant reforms to the imperial system in recent years, aimed at maintaining a stable number of royal family members and ensuring the continuity of the imperial succession.
According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Takashi said during a meeting today at the Prime Minister’s Office with Toshifumi Fujita, co-representative of the Japan Innovation Party, that since the ruling coalition must share responsibility, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Innovation Party should first thoroughly discuss the institutional details to avoid divergent interpretations once the bill is made public. Fujita later revealed that the government is coordinating with the goal of finalizing the cabinet decision by late June.
On June 10, the presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors compiled a 'Legislative Consensus' on the revision. After cross-party discussions, they agreed on two main approaches to address the ongoing decline in the number of royals: First, allowing female royals to retain their royal status after marriage; second, enabling male-line descendants from 11 former imperial branches that lost their status in 1947 to rejoin the imperial family through adoption.
However, the most controversial issue in the first proposal—whether spouses and children of female royals should also be granted royal status—was not clearly resolved in the consensus. It only states that relevant measures will be further studied if necessary.
Regarding the return of descendants from former imperial branches, the consensus requires the government to further examine details such as adoption procedures and age restrictions, and confirms that 'the adoptee themselves shall not have eligibility for imperial succession.'
The consensus also stipulates that the relevant system should be 'reviewed at regular intervals.' Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ishii Keiichi stated that the envisioned review cycle is approximately every 20 to 30 years.
According to the legislative consensus, after the government completes the basic framework of the bill, it must first report to the presiding officers of both Diet chambers. Once the outline is finalized, the government must brief all political parties in the Diet before formally submitting the bill for deliberation. Therefore, even if the government aims to complete the revision quickly, it must still go through cross-party consultations and procedural confirmations.
Before departing yesterday for official visits to the Netherlands and Belgium, Emperor Naruhito made his first public remarks on the issue. He stated, 'I refrain from expressing opinions on the system itself,' but added that he hopes the proposed measures 'will gain the understanding of the people.'
Under current plans, if the bill is successfully submitted by late June, the Diet may follow the 2017 precedent of the 'Special Act on Emperor’s Abdication,' with both chambers conducting short-term deliberations before voting. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150612
FAQ
Why is revising the Imperial Household Law necessary now?
With only two imperial heirs remaining, there are growing concerns about future succession stability.
Can female royals remain in the imperial family after marriage?
The bill proposes allowing them to retain status, though their spouses and children are still under discussion.
Who are the former imperial branches?
Eleven collateral branches removed from the imperial registry in 1947, whose male-line descendants may return.
When will the bill be submitted?
The government aims for a cabinet decision and Diet submission by late June 2024.
Does the Emperor support this reform?
Emperor Naruhito refrains from commenting but stresses the importance of public understanding.