Japan is facing renewed questions over the future of its imperial family as concerns grow that centuries-old succession laws are leaving the world's oldest hereditary monarchy with an increasingly limited number of eligible heirs.
The issue has returned to the spotlight amid growing debate over whether Japan should reform rules that allow only male descendants in the paternal line to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne. While there is no immediate succession emergency, experts and former officials have warned that the shrinking imperial household could create long-term challenges for the institution.
