@paullee3012: According to the existing Imperial Household Law, only men can succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne.The law not only states that the women cannot succeed, but that women who marry commoners will also lose their imperial status.This isn’t the first time that Japan’s succession has become such a talking point. From 2001 to 2006, there were several discussions in the Japanese parliament to consider amending the law and allowing women to succeed. This would have allowed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako’s daughter, 22-year-old Princess Aiko, to ascend to the throne. But the debate was shelved after Hisahito’s birth in 2006. #aiko