Diet Enacts First Imperial House Law Revision in 79 Years, Extends Session to July 25

On July 17, 2026, Japan's House of Councillors passed a bill revising the 1947 Imperial House Law for the first time in its history, addressing the shrinking imperial family by allowing female members to retain imperial status after marriage (though spouses and children remain commoners) and permitting adoption of male descendants from the 11 former imperial branches stripped of status in 1947. The law preserves strict male-line succession, sidestepping the more contentious question of a female emperor. The bill passed with support from the LDP, junior coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People, Komeito, and Sanseito. Rather than closing as scheduled, the Lower House voted the same day to extend the 150-day ordinary Diet session by eight days to July 25, giving the LDP-Ishin coalition a final window to pass a JIP-championed bill establishing a secondary capital.