Japan Reinforces Male-Only Imperial Succession Rules

Key facts

• Prince Hisahito turned 20 on September 6, 2026, as Japan's government reinforces male-only succession rules.
• He is a sophomore majoring in biology at the University of Tsukuba.
• In May, he attended a palace banquet for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and in August he prayed for atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima and joined a teenagers' camp.
• Japan's Parliament enacted a revised succession law in July that lifts a ban on the adoption of male offspring from extremely distant former royal families.
• The revised law lets female royals keep their status after marrying a commoner, but their future partners and offspring won't be royals.
• The revisions have been criticized as anachronistic and sexist and were backed by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
• Experts say the measures will put Hisahito and his eventual wife under enormous pressure to bear a male child.
• At his debut news conference, Hisahito said his main focus was to study and expressed hopes to spend time overseas.
• Hisahito said he hasn't thought about an ideal marriage timing or a partner yet.