Support for female emperors in Japan hits 84% in Nikkei poll

PoliticsViews split on succession by sons of adoptees from former imperial branchesJapanese Crown Princess Kiko (back left), Princess Aiko (center) and Princess Kako (right) attend a spring imperial garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on April 17. Walking in front of them is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. © KyodoNikkei staff writersJuly 27, 2026 15:20 JSTTOKYO -- Support for female emperors topped 80% in the latest poll by Nikkei and TV Tokyo. The revision to the Imperial House Law, which was approved by Japan's Diet on July 17, will allow a male-lineage male descendant from a former imperial branch family to be adopted into the imperial family, making his sons eligible to succeed to the throne. Public opinion on this was narrowly split: 42% considered it appropr