Japan's lower and upper house speakers compiled a draft consensus on Friday on revising the Imperial House Law to maintain the number of imperial family members.
House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori said the document, based on views from all parties, will be presented at a meeting Monday of all 13 parliamentary parties and groups. The proposed revision would permit the imperial family to adopt men from 11 former branch families while allowing female members to retain their imperial status after marriage. The 1947 Imperial House Law currently only allows a male who has an emperor on his father's side to succeed the throne. If approved at a meeting Wednesday, the consensus will go to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the government to draft a bill. It could be enacted by July 17 when the current parliamentary session ends. Concerns over stable succession have grown as there are only three heirs to 66-year-old Emperor Naruhito: his younger brother Crown Prince Fumihito, 60, his nephew Prince Hisahito, 19, and his uncle Prince Hitachi, 90.
