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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.

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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.

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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.

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Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (front, L) bows 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Japan imperial family at villa in Tochigi Pref.

(From L) Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, take a stroll on the premises of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on July 15, 2026.

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Japan imperial family at villa in Tochigi Pref.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako (L) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the press during their stroll on the premises of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on July 15, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan imperial family at villa in Tochigi Pref.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako (L) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the press during their stroll on the premises of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on July 15, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan imperial family at villa in Tochigi Pref.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako (L) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, greet the press during their stroll on the premises of an imperial villa in Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on July 15, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Emperor meets Japan Academy Prize winners

One of the recipients of the Japan Academy Prize gives a presentation about her research to Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front row, foreground), Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 13, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japan's House of Representatives passes a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi applauds after the House of Representatives passed a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Lower house passes bill for imperial law revision

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill for a law revision to address the dwindling number of imperial family members during a plenary session in Tokyo on July 10, 2026.

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Japan Empress Masako at Red Cross event

Japanese Empress Masako (L) attends a Japanese Red Cross Society event in Tokyo on May 12, 2026, along with other members of the imperial family. (Pool photo)

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Crown Prince Fumihito's family attends Paraguay-related concert

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito (3rd from L), his wife Crown Princess Kiko (4th from L), their daughter Princess Kako (2nd from L) and their son Prince Hisahito (5th from L) attend a concert held at the Art Center of Tokyo in the Japanese capital on May 3, 2026, to mark the 90th anniversary of the first Japanese immigration to Paraguay. (Pool photo)

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Crown Prince Fumihito's family attends Paraguay-related concert

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito (3rd from L), his wife Crown Princess Kiko (4th from L), their daughter Princess Kako (2nd from L) and their son Prince Hisahito (5th from L) attend a concert held at the Art Center of Tokyo in the Japanese capital on May 3, 2026, to mark the 90th anniversary of the first Japanese immigration to Paraguay.

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Japan imperial family at veterinary congress

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front, L), Empress Masako (front, R) and their daughter Princess Aiko (front, C) attend the World Veterinary Association Congress at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on April 21, 2026.

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Japan imperial family at veterinary congress

(From L) Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko arrive at the venue of the World Veterinary Association Congress in Tokyo on April 21, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan imperial family at veterinary congress

Japan's Emperor Naruhito addresses the opening ceremony of the World Veterinary Association Congress at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on April 21, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan imperial family at veterinary congress

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend the opening ceremony of the World Veterinary Association Congress at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on April 21, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japanese imperial garden party

A spring imperial garden party is held at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026, with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members in attendance.

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Japanese imperial garden party

A spring imperial garden party is held at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026, with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members in attendance. (Pool photo)

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Japanese imperial garden party

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front, C), Empress Masako (front, R) and other imperial family members attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17, 2026.

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Japan's imperial family's trip to Fukushima

(From R, facing camera) Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko are greeted before getting on a shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital to visit Fukushima Prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

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Japan's imperial family's trip to Fukushima

(From R, facing camera) Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko are greeted before getting on a shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital to visit Fukushima Prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

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Japan's imperial family's trip to Fukushima

(From R, facing camera) Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko are greeted before getting on a shinkansen bullet train at JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital to visit Fukushima Prefecture to inspect the recovery efforts since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

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World Baseball Classic: Imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R), Empress Masako (3rd from R) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, arrive at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo to watch a World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Australia on March 8, 2026.

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World Baseball Classic: Imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far L), Empress Masako (2nd from L) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, arrive at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo to watch a World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Australia on March 8, 2026.

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World Baseball Classic: Imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R), Empress Masako (2nd from L) and their daughter, Princess Aiko, arrive at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo to watch a World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Australia on March 8, 2026.

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Japanese emperor's 66th birthday

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (3rd from L), Empress Masako (4th from L) and other members of the Imperial family wave from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2026, as they greet a crowd gathered to celebrate the emperor's 66th birthday.

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Japanese emperor's 66th birthday

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (3rd from L), Empress Masako (4th from L) and other members of the Imperial family wave from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2026, as they greet a crowd gathered to celebrate the emperor's 66th birthday.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

Japanese Prince Hisahito (C) and other members of the imperial family enter the Matsu-no-Ma state room at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to attend the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading on Jan. 14, 2026.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

Japanese Prince Hisahito (C) and other members of the imperial family enter the Matsu-no-Ma state room at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to attend the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading on Jan. 14, 2026.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

The Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading is held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 14, 2026, with Japanese Emperor Naruhito (at desk, L), Empress Masako (at desk, R) and other members of the imperial family in attendance.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

The Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading is held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 14, 2026, with Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family in attendance.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front, L), Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family enter the Matsu-no-Ma state room at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to attend the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading on Jan. 14, 2026.

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Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front, L), Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family enter the Matsu-no-Ma state room at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to attend the Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading on Jan. 14, 2026.

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New Year lecture for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (C, L), Empress Masako (C, R) and other imperial family members listen to a scholar's New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 9, 2026. (Pool photo)

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New Year lecture for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako listen to a scholar's New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 9, 2026. (Pool photo)

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New year lectures for imperial family

Japanese Prince Hisahito (C), nephew of Emperor Naruhito and the only son of Crown Prince Fumihito, attends the Imperial New Year's Lectures by scholars at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 9, 2026, alongside Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko (far R). (Pool photo)

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New year lectures for imperial family

(From L) Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their only child Princess Aiko listen to a scholar during the Imperial New Year's Lectures at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 9, 2026. (Pool photo)

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New year lectures for imperial family

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members listen to a scholar during the Imperial New Year's Lectures at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 9, 2026. (Pool photo)