These bills weren't passed without contention and controversy. Despite the public repeatedly wanting females in the Succession line to become Empress, the Conservatives and Ultra Conservatives stand firm on male line Succession only.
The solution to open up the junior/cadet line of the Imperial Family has been out there for several years and now it's on paper, but there's still real issues to iron out.
To add to all the mix is the possibility of Imperial couples using the route that Akishino and Kiko took with her last pregnancy....the pregnanvy the produced Hisahito.





https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/17/japan/politics/imperial-family-bills-upper-house/