A popular Japanese cartoonist who has written books on history and monarchy has sued the government over a revised imperial succession law allowing royals to adopt male relatives from former branch families to father future heirs.
The revised law took effect Saturday despite criticism over the male-only succession rules in Japan's 1,500-year-old monarchy. Next in line after Emperor Naruhito is his younger brother Akishino, followed by his 20-year-old nephew, Prince Hisahito. There are no other eligible heirs in his generation.
