Japan is running out of royals. Are more men the answer? ^86.3%

The Japan Times - By Javier C. Hernandez, Hisako Ueno - 6/14/2026, 7:38 AM

Appeal to Authority 48.2% - Optimism Bias 42.3% - Biased Writer Voice 40.9%

Japan’s imperial family, which has long maintained a male-only lineage for emperors, is running out of royals. Now the country has a plan to help revitalize its dwindling ranks: recruit more men. Japan’s legislature, hoping to avoid a succession crisis, moved forward with a proposal this past week to allow the imperial family to adopt... more