Seven of 13 Diet Blocs Back Imperial House Law Revision as Japan Moves to Secure 3-Heir Succession Line

Leaders and deputy leaders of both chambers of Japan's Diet presented their draft proposal on securing Imperial Family numbers to a general meeting of all 13 parties and parliamentary groups on June 9, with House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori reporting that seven parties — including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party — "generally agreed" to the package. The draft, adopted by Diet leaders on June 5 and built on two plans compiled by a 2021 government expert panel, would revise the Imperial House Law to let female Imperial Family members retain their status after marrying commoners and to permit adoption of male-line men from the 11 former Imperial Family branches, with adopted sons ineligible to ascend the throne.

The status of female members' spouses and children is left open. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition force in the House of Councillors, remained undecided, and smaller opposition groups were opposed.

Mori aims to finalise the draft as early as Wednesday, June 10, after which Diet leaders will formally ask Takaichi to consider revising the law, targeting enactment within the current session running through July 17. The succession currently rests on three heirs: Crown Prince Fumihito (Akishino), 60; Prince Hisahito, 19; and Prince Hitachi, 90.