TOKYO: Japan's legislature endorsed on Wednesday (June 10) a proposed framework aimed at easing a looming imperial succession crisis, with just one young heir to the throne currently remaining.
The imperial household operates under strict rules that allow only male offsprings from the male side of the family to ascend to the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne.
That means that the household's future currently hinges on 19-year-old Prince Hisahito (pic), Emperor Naruhito's nephew and the only young man in the family.
Other family members are either women -- who are not allowed to inherit the throne -- or older men, the youngest among them 60-year-old Crown Prince Akishino, who is Naruhito's brother and Hisahito's father.
In a bid to expand the thinning line of succession, lawmakers endorsed in principle amending the Imperial Household Law, presenting their initiative to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The proposals would allow women to keep their royal status even after marrying someone outside the family, and let the imperial family adopt male distant relatives.
"Given all the differing opinions, we believe we've managed to produce the best possible result," lower house speaker Eisuke Mori told a news conference before presenting the legislature's view to Takaichi.
Once her government drafts the amendments, the bill will return to the legislature, with Mori expressing his wish to pass it before the current parliament session ends on July 17.
Under the proposal, adopted men would not be heirs but their sons could be placed in line to succeed the throne, Mori said this week.
The imperial family now has 16 members in total, including five men -- the 66-year-old emperor and his brother, Prince Hisahito, retired emperor Akihito, who is 92, and his 90-year-old brother.
Emperor Naruhito has a daughter, Princess Aiko. The existing male-succession rule means that she would have to leave the family once she marries a commoner.
The lawmakers' proposal did not address the possibility of a woman emperor, an idea that has wide public support. - AFP
