Poll shows over 80% back female, female-line emperors

2026-07-26

Support for female and female-line emperors tops 80%

In a public opinion poll conducted by Nikkei and TV Tokyo from 24 to 26, 84% of respondents said female emperors and female-line emperors should be allowed. Views were split on an adoption plan for male-line male descendants of former imperial branch families outlined in the revised Imperial House Law.

Support for female and female-line emperors

'Both female emperors and female-line emperors should be allowed' was the most common response at 59%. 'Only female emperors should be allowed, and female-line emperors should not' accounted for 25%, bringing the total to 84%. 'Neither female emperors nor female-line emperors should be allowed' was 8%.

By age, 62% of those 39 or younger, 53% of those in their 40s and 50s, and 65% of those 60 or older supported the idea, all a majority. Support was 53% among backers of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet and 54% among LDP supporters.

Assessment of the revised Imperial House Law

The revision aims to secure the number of imperial family members and includes a plan that would allow female imperial family members to remain in the imperial household after marriage and another to allow male-line sons of former imperial branch families, who left the imperial family after World War II, to be adopted. A supplementary resolution in the Diet said measures for stable imperial succession would continue to be examined, putting off a conclusion on whether to allow female or female-line emperors.

Forty-nine percent said they approved of the revised Imperial House Law, while 41% said they did not. Among LDP supporters, 68% approved, while among independents, 46% disapproved, exceeding the 39% who approved.

Views on the adoption plan

Under the revised Imperial House Law, Article 2, which sets the order of imperial succession, does not apply to the adopted person from a former imperial branch family. However, Article 2 does apply to the adopted person's sons, who are eligible for imperial succession. Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and others have criticized the plan, saying the speakers and deputy speakers of both houses of the Diet and the ruling and opposition parties did not decide that far in their discussions.

Forty-two percent said it would be appropriate for the adopted person's sons to hold imperial succession rights, while 45% said it would not, leaving the views split. Among LDP supporters, 54% said it would be appropriate, 12 points above the overall figure. Among independents, 53% said it would not be appropriate, and among opposition supporters the figure was 59%. By age, 51% of those 39 or younger said it would be appropriate. Among those in their 40s and 50s, positive and negative views were evenly split, while among those 60 or older, 47% said it would not be appropriate, exceeding the 39% who said it would.

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