Japan enshrines male-only succession for the shrinking imperial family

A law set to pass Friday by Japan's parliament could doom its 1,500-year-old hereditary institution by insisting that only men can be emperor, sparking worry about the shrinking, fast-aging imperial family.

Despite the historic changes to the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy, the conservative ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has faced criticism from opposition lawmakers for insufficient parliamentary deliberations.

Japan’s parliament tweaked the imperial succession law on July 17 but maintained the bar on women emperors, despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea.

Emperor Naruhito ’s 24-year-old daughter is hugely popular, and many Japanese want her to be his successor, but Princess Aiko is ineligible because she is a woman.