Japan's parliament passed legislation on July 17, 2026, revising imperial succession rules to allow male distant relatives to be adopted into the imperial family, while keeping the ban on female emperors in place.
BBC News reported that eligible candidates must be male and older than 15. The measure is intended to secure a line of male heirs to the throne, NPR said.
The legislation comes amid public pressure on the succession question. NPR noted that a popular princess has driven public support for permitting a female emperor. Japan's first female prime minister, however, opposes that change.