Japan govt. approves bill to secure number of Imperial family members | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan's government has approved a bill to revise the Imperial House Law with the aim of securing the number of Imperial family members.

The government decided on the revisions at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Under one revision, females would stay in the Imperial family after marriage. Females currently leave the Imperial household when they marry outside the Imperial family.

As a transitional measure, female members at the time the law takes effect can request to leave the Imperial family upon marriage.

The bill also enables the adoption of male descendants in the male line of former Imperial branches.

The Imperial family currently consists of Emperor Naruhito and 15 others. Under the Imperial House Law, the Imperial Throne is succeeded by males in the male line. At present, only three members are eligible.

Tuesday's revisions enable adoption of male descendants in the male line of 11 former Imperial branches that lost Imperial status in 1947.

The bill says those adoptees must be 15 or older, unmarried and childless. They would not be able to succeed to the throne, but their male offspring would be eligible.

It also calls for a review every 30 years, if necessary.

The government will aim to have a bill passed during the current Diet session.