Japan maintains male-only imperial tradition with succession law

Japan's government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has upheld the male-only imperial succession tradition, continuing to bar women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The revised Imperial House Bill reflects Takaichi's conservative agenda after nine months in office. The decision maintains the current system despite ongoing debates about the shrinking imperial family and the need for stable succession. The law ensures that only male heirs in the paternal line can become emperor, excluding female members and their descendants. This move is seen as a significant policy stance by the Takaichi administration, prioritizing tradition over potential reforms that would allow female or matrilineal succession.