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The Conversation
The Conversation
Politics
Masafumi Monden, Lecturer in Japanese Studies, University of Sydney

With male imperial descendants dwindling, will Japan's leaders finally accept a female emperor?

Japan Aiko Akishino Masako Mako
KYDPL KYODO/AP

Princess Aiko, the only child of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, came of age last month as she turned 20. Despite her royal lineage, Aiko may never ascend to the throne.

Japanese consistently tell poll after poll they would be happy with a female emperor or an emperor descended from the female line. But Japanese imperial household law forbids this – and despite succession in the male line hanging by a thread, it doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon.

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