Japan eases imperial succession rules but retains ban on female emperors

Japan has revised its royal succession laws to address concerns about a shrinking imperial family. The new rules permit male distant relatives aged over 15 to be adopted back into the imperial household. However, the reform stops short of allowing women to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne, leaving the ban on female emperors firmly in place. The change is seen as a limited measure to ensure the continuity of the imperial line amid a declining number of eligible male heirs.