Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stands up after the House of Councillors passed a bill to revise the Imperial House Law during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. The amendment to the 1947 law permits the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and also allows female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.

  • Product Code
  • ILEA005088232
  • Registered date
  • 2026/7/17 00:00:00
  • Credit
  • Kyodo / Kyodo News Images
  • Media source
  • 2026 Kyodo News
  • Media size
  • 3935 × 2806 pixel
  • Resolution
  • 240 dpi
  • Deployment size
  • 785.29(KB)*
  • Special instruction

*File size when opened in Photoshop, etc.

Similar Images & Videos
    Japan revises Imperial House Law

    Japan revises Imperial House Law

    People visit a square facing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. Japan enacted the revised Imperial House Law the same day, permitting the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.
      Japan revises Imperial House Law

      Japan revises Imperial House Law

      Japan's House of Councillors passes a bill to revise the Imperial House Law during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. The amendment to the 1947 law permits the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and also allows female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.
        Japan revises Imperial House Law

        Japan revises Imperial House Law

        People visit a square facing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. Japan enacted the revised Imperial House Law the same day, permitting the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.
          Japanese lawmakers studying UFO cases

          Japanese lawmakers studying UFO cases

          Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (far L) meets in Tokyo on May 28, 2026, with members of a parliamentarians' group created to study reported cases of unidentified flying objects.
            Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

            Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

            Sakie Yokota (C), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (R) at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 8, 2026. Sitting beside Yokota is Satomi Mori, who heads a group to support her.
              Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

              Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

              Sakie Yokota (C), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press after holding a meeting with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 8, 2026. Standing beside Yokota is Satomi Mori, who heads a group to support her.
                Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                Sakie Yokota (C), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (R) at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 8, 2026. Sitting beside Yokota is Satomi Mori, who heads a group to support her.
                  Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                  Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                  Sakie Yokota (C), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press after holding a meeting with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 8, 2026. Standing beside Yokota is Satomi Mori, who heads a group to support her.
                    Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                    Abductee's mother meets with top gov't spokesman

                    Sakie Yokota (L), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, poses with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (R) at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 8, 2026. Standing beside Yokota is Satomi Mori, who heads a group to support her.
                      Meeting over imperial family member number

                      Meeting over imperial family member number

                      Japan's House of Representatives and House of Councillors hold a joint meeting in Tokyo on April 17, 2025, to look for ways to prevent a further decline in the number of imperial family members. In Japan, female members must relinquish their imperial family status after marriage.