Proposal would allow females to ascend Japanese throne
A government panel discussing imperial succession today decided to propose allowing females and their descendants to ascend Japan’s imperial throne, Kyodo News agency reported.
The panel also reached a consensus that the first-born child should be given a right to ascend regardless of gender, Kyodo said.
The advisory panel has been meeting since January to study the succession issue and make recommendations as a shortage of male heirs threatens to trigger a crisis unless the Imperial House Law is changed.
Under the 1947 law, only males who have emperors on the father’s side can become emperor.
