Not eligible: Japan’s hereditary, male-only succession rules means Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako’s only child, Princess Aiko, is not in line to inherit the throne. — AFP
TOKYO: Japanese Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication later this month has reignited concerns over the future of what is believed to be one of the world’s oldest royal families, given its hereditary, male-only succession rules.
As it stands, the fate of the Japanese imperial family rests on 12-year-old Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Naruhito’s younger brother and the last eligible male heir.
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