Speaker of the House Eisuke Mori (LDP) said he wants to realize amendments to the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session.

These changes aim to prevent the decline of the imperial family's membership and ensure a stable succession of the throne. The proposed measures would allow female members of the imperial family to maintain their royal status, and permit the adoption of male descendants from former imperial branches.

During a general meeting held at the Speaker's official residence in Tokyo on May 15 [2], Mori said he expressed urgency regarding the legal framework. "I have made every possible effort. I want to somehow reach an amendment of the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session," Mori said [4].

The meeting, which occurred after a gap of approximately one year [7], involved representatives from 13 political parties and groups who expressed their views on the proposal [6]. The initiative follows a summary plan developed by the speakers and deputy speakers of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.

Takayuki Kobayashi (LDP), the Liberal Democratic Party's policy research council chair, said that many parties and factions shared a basic understanding, which he noted was of great significance. He said the current summary plan would be finalized [5].

Supporters of the move emphasized the need for a broad approach to maintaining the family's numbers. Hiroshi Kasai, a member of the House of Representatives from the Center for Democratic Reform Union, said the plan aligns with the view that all possible options should be pursued to secure the number of imperial family members [5].

The push for these reforms comes as the royal family faces a shrinking number of eligible heirs, creating a long-term risk to the continuity of the monarchy.

“"I want to somehow reach an amendment of the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session,"”

The effort to amend the Imperial House Law represents a significant shift toward flexibility in Japan's strict patrilineal succession system. By exploring the adoption of male heirs from former branches and allowing female royals to remain in the family, the government is attempting to balance the traditional requirement for a male line with the practical reality of a dwindling number of royal descendants.