Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino has ‘mixed feelings’ about male-only imperial succession law

On Thursday in Tokyo, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, publicly expressed having “mixed feelings” regarding the current Imperial House Law. The existing legislation mandates that only male members of the imperial family are eligible to ascend to the throne.

The Prince’s comments address the ongoing government discourse surrounding the succession system. By acknowledging his reservations about the male-only requirement, the Prince has drawn attention to the debate over potential revisions to the laws governing the Japanese monarchy.