Princess Aiko, 24, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, is the most popular member of Japan’s imperial family but is legally unable to become empress. This is due to a law established almost 140 years ago that forbids women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum throne.
Public support for a female emperor is strong, with a Mainichi Shimbun newspaper poll in April showing 72% in favour and only 10% opposed. The imperial family is facing a succession crisis, with its membership decreasing from 30 to 16 in the last three decades, and only five male members remaining.
The current line of succession includes Emperor Naruhito’s younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino; his son, Prince Hisahito; and the emperor’s uncle, Prince Hitachi. If Prince Hisahito, the first male born into the imperial family in four decades, does not have a son, the line of succession could end within a generation.
Despite this, the conservative government of Sanae Takaichi recently pushed through amendments to safeguard male-only succession. These changes, effective later this month, allow women to retain royal status after marrying non-royals and permit the adoption of male-line descendants from 11 collateral branches of the family.
The UN women’s rights committee urged Japan in 2024 to allow a female emperor, but Tokyo dismissed this as “regrettable” and “inappropriate,” stating imperial succession is a matter of “fundamental national identity.”