Japan's revised Imperial House Law took effect on Saturday, in the first major revision of the 1947 law that governs the country's imperial family, Kyodo News reported.
Source: Kyodo News
The legislation, enacted in July, is meant to address the shrinking size of the imperial family while retaining the traditional male-only succession system, despite public support for female emperors.
Under the revised law, the imperial family can adopt males aged 15 or older from 11 former imperial branch families who are descended from emperors through the male line. Adopted members themselves are barred from becoming emperor, but their male descendants are eligible to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The law also allows female members of the imperial family to retain their imperial status after marrying commoners, reversing the previous requirement that they leave the family upon marriage. Their husbands and children do not acquire imperial status.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said allowing female members to retain their status is an important measure to prevent the number of royal family members from decreasing, and described adoption as an indispensable measure for securing male royal members, Kyodo reported.
Source: Kyodo News
The revision does not address the possibility of female emperors or succession through the maternal line. Only males descended from emperors through the paternal line remain eligible for the throne, and the revised system is to be reviewed every 30 years if necessary.