Japan Parliament Passes Bill to Loosen Imperial Succession Rules, Maintaining Male Primacy

Tokyo. The Japanese parliament has passed a bill to loosen imperial succession rules, keeping in mind the declining size of the imperial family. However, the provision that does not allow women to become 'Emperor' has been kept as it is.

According to the bill passed by the Upper House on Friday, distant male relatives over 15 years of age can be reincluded in the imperial family. Also, women of the imperial family will now be able to retain their imperial status even if they marry outside the family.